By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
Information and National Orientation Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Idris has highlighted successes recorded by the bold reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu describing him as a fearless veteran in reform battles.
Delivery the 34th Convention Lecture of the Federal University of Technology Minna ( FUT Minna) at the weekend, the Minister explained that the audacious steps taken by the President in 2023 to reform the oil sector, has put the country on
the pathways to progress despite the initial strong push back.
Lecturing on the theme, ” Youth and Nation Building: Navigating opportunities in an era of National Reforms “, the Information and National Orientation Minister dissected Nigerian’s reform landscape since 2023 insisting that Nigeria is in the middle of some boldest and most ambitious reforms it has experienced in decades which are not happening by accident but are product of deliberate vision and political will of President Tinubu.
He listed some of the most ambitious reforms by the President to include the removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the foreign exchange rate and the new tax law which took effect on January 1, 2026, adding that, ” the President reforms are creating massive waves of opportunity in every sector you can think of”.
He confirmed that the renewed attention of domestic and foreign investors occasioned by these reforms, is opening up opportunities in every sector of the economy; digital technologies, agriculture, creative economy and renewable energy.
He said, “The work that the President Tinubu administration to secure Nigeria exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey list in 2025 was another strong demonstration to the world that there is a new template in town. That Grey listing which the administration inherited had significant negative implications for our ability to participate in seamlessly inthe global financial system “.
Idris also touched on one of the biggest and most visible opportunities created for young Nigerians in the last two years – the low-cost, long term financing for students of higher institutions through the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“Since its launch in May 2024 , NELFUND has received almost 1.5m applications with more than 900, 000 beneficiaries. Over N174 billion has been disbursed as tuition fees and monthly upkeep allowances “, he said, explaining that through NELFUND we have incontrovertible proof that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is real, functional, impactful and transformational.
Blueprint reports that dignitaries from the state and the entire nation including prominent academic scholars honoured the minister with the presence at the lecture. The list of the VIPs in attendance included the Senator representing Niger South, Senator Ndalikali, former Speakers of the Niger State House of Assembly, former members of the state and National Assembly, friends and associates of the minister.
