The Vatican announced on Thursday that Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the first pope from the United States. A moderate figure with a strong connection to Pope Francis, Prevost has dedicated years to missionary work in Peru. He will serve as the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, adopting the papal name Leo XIV.

— AFP

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says media, as gatekeepers and partners in nation-building, have a crucial role to play in supporting our military’s morale by highlighting their successes and sacrifices

The minister noted the critical role of the media in shaping public perception, adding that terrorists and criminal groups often use these avenues to spread fear, propagate disinformation, and recruit followers.

He urged journalists and editors to adopt a responsible and patriotic approach to reporting these issues, by avoiding sensational headlines and refusing to serve as amplifiers of terror propaganda.

Idris stated this on Wednesday at the ministerial press briefing held at the National Press Centre in Abuja.

“The media, as gatekeepers and partners in nation-building, have a crucial role to play in supporting our military’s morale by highlighting their successes and sacrifices,” Idris said.

“We must deny these groups the undue publicity they crave. We must take them off the front pages and accurately report them as the criminals they are, without glorifying their acts or giving credence to their false narratives.

“These are not freedom fighters; they are murderers, kidnappers, and destroyers, and they must be presented as such.”

The minister also noted that federal government is “actively” investing in military capacity through the acquisition of modern equipment, enhanced intelligence, and strategic partnerships.

Idris said the press briefing series is a forum that allows ministers to update Nigerians on the key achievements, ongoing initiatives, and policy directions of their various ministries.

He commended the media for their continued support and their broader role in promoting public awareness of government initiatives.

“Through this interactive platform, which is being broadcast live on national television stations and streamed across social media platforms, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to transparency, accountability, and public engagement,” he added.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa says 24 federal institutions have been powered by solar energy under the “Energising Education Project’’ of President Bola Tinubu led administration.

Alausa, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony with the Vice Chancellors of beneficiary institutions added that eight more universities have signed collaboration agreements to join the fourth phase of the project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, before the signing ceremony, the minister undertook an inspection tour of the solar powered facility at the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University,

Alausa who described the project as a “new day for Nigeria” hailed the transformative initiative under Tinubu, aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply to Nigeria’s federal tertiary institutions.

He said the projects had wide-reaching benefits for education and the economy.

According to him, the University of Abuja, which now boasts of a solar farm, comprising 6,000 photovoltaic panels, is generating approximately 3.3 megawatts of electricity daily, enough to power the campus round-the-clock.

“This project brings continuous, 24-hour electricity to our institutions.

“It allows for increased academic activity, powers laboratories and libraries throughout the day and night, and improves living and learning conditions for both students and faculty,’’ he said.

The minister emphasised the economic ripple effect of the initiative, explaining how reliable electricity stimulates business within campuses.

“Any campus is a community by itself. With constant power supply, you unleash high economic activity,” he said.

The Minister explained that the project was backed by the Renewable Infrastructure Fund established by President Tinubu, to support infrastructure development across sectors.

He, therefore, challenged Vice Chancellors of universities on innovative and creative ways of sustaining the project, noting that before 2027, every tertiary institution would have renewable energy generation.

On his part, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu said that the phases 1, 2, and 3 of the project have so far impacted over 600,000 students and 50,000 academic staffers.

Aliyu said that the project had also generated over 100 megawatts of electricity to power university campuses and teaching hospitals.

He said the initiative, implemented through multiple phases, had already brought solar mini-grid infrastructure to 24 federal universities across the country.

“What you are seeing here is one of our interventions in the education sector, and the aim is to ensure that universities have a sustainable and affordable electricity supply,” he said

In addition to educational institutions, he said the Universal Public Health Project, part of phase 2, had successfully delivered clean energy to two universities and two teaching hospitals.

He added that the Phase 3, which includes electrification of eight more universities and one additional teaching hospital, is near completion and set to be commissioned in the coming two months.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the eight new beneficiary institutions include: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Federal University, Wukari, Taraba state.

Others are Federal University Dutse, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and University of Lagos. (NAN)