Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says the Nigerian government remains committed to establishing a UNESCO Category 2 Institute for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Nigeria.
The Minister reiterated the commitment during a bilateral meeting with the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, on the sidelines of UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference in Paris.
The proposed Institute will be the first of its kind in Africa and will serve as a hub for research, training and capacity building in media and information literacy.
The institute will also provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices among media professionals, educators, and policymakers.
“This is a sector that I am deeply passionate about,” the Minister said in an official statement.
“I have always said that when I am done as Minister, I will be returning to the media space, which is my home. I therefore have a responsibility to make it better, and UNESCO will get my full support and cooperation,” he furthered.
In 2022 Media and Information Literacy Week which held in Abuja, Nigeria pledged to establish and host the Institute. The plan was later endorsed by a Resolution of the 216th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board, in May 2023.
The establishment of the UNESCO Category 2 Institute for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) will mark a significant step towards promoting media and information literacy in Nigeria, helping to build a critical mass of media professionals who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complex media landscape of the 21st century.
Nigeria at UNESCO
Also present at the bilateral meeting, which held at the UNESCO headquarters, was Nigeria’s Ambassador, Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Dr. Hajo Sani.
Minister Idris expressed gratitude to Ambassador Hajo Sani for her diligent representation of Nigeria’s interests at UNESCO and the key role she played in facilitating Nigeria’s hosting of the 2022 UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Week, and the plans for Nigeria to host the first UNESCO MIL Institute in the world.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General, Dr. Jelassi, commended Nigeria’s active participation in UNESCO, and pledged to continue to support the country to take full advantage of all opportunities for the development of its information and communication space.
He outlined UNESCO’s ongoing work in various areas, from promoting press freedom around the world, to supporting the development of community radio, and the ongoing work to harmonize national efforts to fight misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.
He disclosed that UNESCO has just launched a report titled, ‘Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms‘ which emphasizes a multistakeholder approach to safeguard freedom of expression and access to information.
Earlier, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, had joined other members of the Nigerian delegation, including the Leader of the delegation, the Honorable Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who also doubles as President of Nigeria’s National Commission to UNESCO), to participate in the opening ceremony for the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference.
