Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has pledged to support UNESCO in its plan to establish its International Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute in Nigeria, as part of efforts to scale up the fight against disinformation and promote media trust and credibility.
The Minster made the pledge when the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Mrs Hajo Sani, paid him a courtesy visit at the Radio House, Abuja.
“This decision to establish the Institute here is a big win for Nigeria, and I assure you that the Federal Government will do and provide everything needed to ensure the institute takes off, the Minister said, noting that the government will speed up efforts to ensure the institute is established in Nigeria.
“I know that there have been some delays, mostly on account of the government transition that we have recently gone through. We will work to make up for lost time.”
The decision to establish the International Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute came as part of the resolutions of the UNESCO Global Media and Information Week held last year in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
During her courtesy visit to the Minister, Mrs Sani, said; “the declaration and, in particular, the process of establishing the institute has been a subject, which needs concrete, concise and effective follow-up action from all stakeholders, especially the Federal Ministry of Information.”
UNESCO, she notes, supports the development of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for all to enable people’s ability to think critically and click wisely in the new information, digital and communication landscapes.
Mrs Sani thanked the Minister and welcomed his support in ensuring UNESCO receives all the necessary support from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in achieving the lofty goals of both Nigeria and the UN body.
Dominica Nwabufo
