Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has urged Media professionals and key stakeholders to prioritise objectivity and champion Media and Information Literacy to cultivate a society marked by informed engagement.
Idris made the call at a one day symposium in commemoration of the 2024 Media Information Literacy week. It was Organised by the International Media and Information Literacy Institute, National Open University in Collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Information and National Orientation and UNESCO.
He also emphasised on the need for an environment where responsible media practices flourish.
The Minister said; “Together, let us create an environment where responsible media practices flourish and where the public is equipped to engage with information critically. I call on the new generation of content creators and social media influencers to prioritise the interests of the nation and uphold highest ethical standards in the expression and delivery of their crafts.
“Your role in ensuring accurate, fair, and responsible reporting and content is more important now than ever. Let us reaffirm our commitment to a free and responsible press, and to the promotion of Media and Information Literacy for all citizens. Together, we will navigate these new digital frontiers and build a society that values truth, transparency, and informed engagement.”
Fake news
Idris also condemned the proliferation of fake news on social media, warning that, if not curbed, it poses an existential threat to the unity, peace, and development of the country.
He said; “This digital landscape with its limitless opportunities also poses serious challenges, especially with the spread of misinformation and disinformation, whether created by humans or generated by AI. Therefore, it has become crucial that we empower our citizens with the tools they need to navigate this complex information environment, especially with the advent of Artificial Intelligence which will make it more complex. Media and Information Literacy fosters an informed citizenry capable of making sound judgments in the face of conflicting narratives.
“As we recognise the importance of MIL, we must also commit to integrating it into our educational frameworks. It is imperative that our schools, universities, and community organizations prioritize media literacy programs, ensuring that our youth are equipped to thrive in this digital age.”
Speaking on this year’s global theme “New Digital Frontiers of Information: Media and Information Literacy for Public Interest Information, Idris noted that the theme aligned with the thrust of Mr. President’s strategic communication objective of providing an effective and inclusive public information machinery that is accessible to all Nigerians.
“This theme resonates deeply with the fourth pillar of the Ministry under my leadership which aims to modernize technology and talent in the Federal Government’s Information and Communications Systems. It’s in equipping the citizenry with the requisite knowledge and digital literacy skills that we can effectively communicate and collectively fight fake news, misinformation and disinformation. As we embrace the digital revolution, we must acknowledge its transformative impact on how information is created, shared, and consumed,”he added
Also speaking, the Representative of UNESCO in Nigeria, Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo noted that UNESCO brought together experts and academia of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and formed a coalition aimed at facilitating the coordination of interventions on MIL in Nigeria. This promotes synergy amongst stakeholders towards advocacies on National Policies, Integration of MIL into school’s curriculum, and promotion of MIL literacy society.
He said; “UNESCO understands the importance of mainstreaming MIL into the educational system which it has done over the years. This includes mainstreaming the MIL curriculum into the curriculum of Colleges of Education, building the capacities of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council curriculum experts in preparation for the recent National Curriculum Review, to increase their understanding on all forms and processes of MIL and particularly identify the best strategy for reflecting MIL in the various elements of the curriculum.
“We also work with teachers at states level towards ensuring they are equipped to mainstream MIL into their lesson notes and teach this in the classroom.”
The Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Olufemi Peters commended the Information Minister for his support for the institution towards consolidating the activities of the International Media and Literacy Institute, which is domiciled in the university.
He said; “the workshop is aimed at renewing commitments in promoting Medis and Information Literacy.
“Through this workshop, we hope to foster a collaborative exchange of ideas and expertise, enabling us to strengthen our collective capacity to face the challenges and harness the opportunities posed by digital revolution.”
October 24th to 31st every year, is set aside by UNESCO to globally celebrate the Media and Information and Literacy Week, an implementation of a resolution of the 2021 United Nations General Assembly.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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