The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL) across the country and beyond through the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), housed at the National Open University of Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, FNIPR, reiterated this during a one-day symposium recently held at the university. The symposium, themed “Blogging, Artificial Intelligence, and the Credibility of Social Media Content: A Hybrid-Resolution Approach,” was part of a series of programs organized in collaboration with IMILI, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and UNESCO.
The symposium was designed to address growing concerns over fake news, misinformation, and the declining trust in media content as a result of emerging technologies such as social media, artificial intelligence, and blogging, all of which have blurred the line between professionally generated content and that created by citizens and other media users.
Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who was represented by Mrs. Comfort Ajiboye, Director and Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, reiterated the government’s commitment to combating misinformation and supporting initiatives that promote media literacy.
Reaffirming the Nigerian Government’s steadfast commitment to fostering a well-informed citizenry, the Minister described the National Open University of Nigeria as competent and capable of managing the government-supported International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI).
He emphasized the government’s support for ensuring that IMILI achieves the status of a Category 2 Institute under the auspices of UNESCO.
“We are confident that NOUN has the competence and network required to drive the Institute and make it truly global, as intended,” the Minister declared.
Alhaji Idris also emphasized the Nigerian Government’s determination to support programmes that encourage constructive dialogue, innovative solutions, and international collaboration. He said that, together with its partners at UNESCO and IMILI, the government is confident that the outcomes of the symposium “will contribute meaningfully to advancing media literacy and promoting the responsible use of information technologies in Nigeria.”
In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters, emphasized that IMILI, domiciled at the National Open University of Nigeria, is dedicated to raising global leaders in media and information literacy through comprehensive training, capacity-building initiatives, and degree and postgraduate certification programmes.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Chiedu Mafiana, Peters stressed the crucial role of collaboration among academic institutions, the government, civil society organizations, and international bodies in addressing the growing problem of misinformation in today’s digital world.
He also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its unwavering support in helping IMILI work toward becoming a Category 2 Institute under the auspice of UNESCO.
The symposium, held in a hybrid format, brought together policymakers, media professionals, academics, students, civil society organizations, and members of the general public.
The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Jacob Shagboar Suemo, Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Nile University. It featured three experts: Dr. Qasim Olalere Akinretin, Deputy Director of Digital Media at Voice of Nigeria (VON); Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Baze University; and Mr. Abdullahi O. Haruna, a well-known blogger, publisher, and social media influencer.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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