Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved funding for the operationalisation of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute.
This initiative follows Nigeria’s being awarded hosting rights by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during a meeting with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, in Paris. The meeting took place on the sidelines of President Tinubu’s state visit to France.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Rabiu Ibrahim, the institute will be located in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been very supportive of the take-off process and has approved the release of all funds required for the immediate operationalisation of the institute,” the minister said.
He expressed gratitude for the honour of hosting this unique Category 2 MIL Institute, the only one of its kind globally.
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Dr. Jelassi welcomed the development, emphasising the institute’s role in addressing global challenges such as misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.
He also highlighted the importance of UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, which promote critical thinking, transparency, and freedom of expression in the digital space.
The discussions also introduced UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy Cities initiative, which aims to integrate media literacy into urban design and operations, including transportation, culture, and public communication systems. Idris pledged Nigeria’s commitment to becoming one of the inaugural MIL Cities under this global program.
The discussions also covered the recently published guidelines, developed through extensive consultations involving over 10,000 submissions from 134 countries. Minister Idris assured that Nigeria would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement these guidelines, aiming to create a safer and more responsible internet for all citizens.
The meeting at UNESCO Headquarters also included Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Dr. Hajo Sani.
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