FG Pledges Strong Support for Nationwide Measles-Rubella Vaccine Campai
The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind the upcoming Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, scheduled for nationwide rollout in October 2025.
During a courtesy visit from the Centre for Well-Being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS), the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, assured the team of the Ministry’s full backing particularly in communication and advocacy.
“You’ve come to the right place,” Idris said, noting the Ministry’s mandate to inform and educate. “We will work with our agencies—including the National Orientation Agency and public media outlets to ensure Nigerians understand what’s at stake.”
The Minister admitted to learning some hard truths during the C-WINS presentation, especially the devastating effects of rubella. “Many Nigerians know about measles, but not rubella. The fact that it can cause blindness, deafness or heart defects in newborns is deeply troubling
C-WINS Project Lead, Dr Nihinlola Mabogunje, stressed the urgency of raising awareness, pointing out that Nigeria accounts for nearly 20% of global measles cases—with the Northeast hit hardest.
She also highlighted the often-overlooked threat of rubella, particularly to pregnant women.
“The vaccine is safe, effective, and has saved over 94 million lives globally,” she said, calling on the government to lead a unified communication effort. “To hit our 95% coverage target, we need clear, trusted information delivered through the channels Nigerians use every day.”
Minister Idris directed his team to work closely with C-WINS in creating culturally sensitive materials to be shared across public and private media.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, quoted the Minister as saying “this is not just a health campaign,” but a lifesaving mission and information is our most powerful tool.”
