Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an ardent supporter of the media, who understands the crucial role of the media sector in nation-building.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris stated this in Tuesday at the annual Blueprint media Lecture, Impact Series and Awards, held in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the President, in addition to being very supportive of the media, has made it very clear to him from the onset that he should proceed to do his work as a professional as he deems it fit. 
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an ardent supporter of the media. He knows that the media is very crucial in nation-building and he has told me severally that I should go and do my job as best as I deem fit, being a professional myself.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not in any way, form, or shape, stifle or stand in the way of the progress or the work of the media in this country.
“But all of us media professionals have to come together to walk this delicate path and ensure that society is being kept together while also holding leaders and government to account,” the Minister stated.
In a statement released by his aide, Idris also harped on the critical role of the media in nation-building, stressing that the responsibility of nurturing democracy in Nigeria rests on the media.
“In doing that job, you have an enormous responsibility to hold government and leaders to account, but even as you do that, you also have to know that because of your vantage position and the critical role you play, you can also help, if you don’t take care, your actions may be injurious to society,” he said.
The Minister added that it was important for the media to exercise discernment in distinguishing between what is good and bad, to avoid creating division or destabilizing the country.
He noted that despite challenges within the information ecosystem, there remains a ray of hope, as the media continues to thrive and demonstrate resilience.
Idris reiterated that President Tinubu remains a committed champion of press freedom and would never seek to stifle the media in any way.
The Minister also clarified that he is no longer the Chairman of Blueprint Newspapers, a position he relinquished upon his appointment. 
“I am no longer the chairman of Blueprint Newspaper. I’m also an invitee to this occasion. I know that I was in the past, at the forefront of organizing this event for Blueprint, especially since its inception 14 years ago.
“I must thank those who were invited to join me in May of 2005, to contemplate the idea of the Blueprint Newspaper: Malam Ibrahim Sheme, Malam Salisu Umar, the Managing Director, Hajia Zainab Okino, chairman Editorial Board, and all members of the Blueprint Newspaper.
“Thank you for keeping the flag flying. I haven’t visited that office in about a year now, but I guess I would do that. I wanted to see whether they would indeed keep this flag flying. I am proud and happy that what we started has continued to flourish,” he said.The Minister commended the awardees and stated that their selection was solely the judgment of the newspaper and was not influenced by any external interests.
Dignitaries at the event include His Excellency Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President.
Also, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake; Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, and the Keynote Speaker of the event, Prof. Attahiru Jega, amongst others.
