Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has assured UNESCO of the country’s commitment to deepening technical efforts to ensure that the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute meets global standards and delivers measurable impact.
The Minister made the pledge when he received the Head of Office, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Dr Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga, during a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Idris reaffirmed the administration’s readiness to support the Institute’s establishment.
“Nigeria will not delay this global responsibility. The UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Institute will commence operations in February 2026, with full support from the Federal Government. We are ready, and we will deliver. We will continue to work with you to advance the cause of mankind here and all over the world. The Institute is not just for Nigeria; it is a global institution designed to help media practitioners and everyone interested in discerning good news from fake news. It will be crucial at a time when we face the menace of disinformation, misinformation, and fake news. We are building a world-class institution that will train people who will, in turn, train others worldwide,” he said.
Global Institution
The Minister stressed that the Centre would be a global institution serving humanity while strengthening national unity through media literacy.
He noted that the Centre aligns with the Federal Government’s national orientation drive under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at empowering citizens with factual, responsible, and developmental information.
To ensure the smooth launch of the Institute, Idris outlined immediate actions already underway, including the finalisation of legal and operational frameworks and the appointment of a pioneer Director-General to lead the Centre ahead of its February 2026 commencement.
He further revealed that work has begun on developing international-standard training programmes for media professionals, public information managers, policymakers, educators, researchers, youth leaders, and digital communicators from Nigeria and across the globe.
Idris expressed his gratitude to UNESCO for entrusting Nigeria with the hosting rights .
“Let me place on record our happiness and gratitude to UNESCO for finding Nigeria worthy of its hosting of the Category 2 Media and Information Literacy Centre that you have granted us. Right from the time that Nigeria got into this bit, we took it very seriously when I came on board; it didn’t start while I was minister. My predecessors actually started it. But when I came in and I was briefed by my team, I took this really very seriously”, he added
He reiterated that UNESCO’s confidence in Nigeria is a powerful message to skeptics of the country’s development trajectory.
“At a time when some doubt Nigeria’s capacity, UNESCO has reaffirmed our place as a true partner in global development. We will honour that confidence,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the UNESCO Head of Office, Abuja, Dr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga, explained that the visit was to congratulate Nigeria for securing the first Media and Information Literacy Associated Centre globally.
“It is important for us to come and introduce our team that works on communication and information, and to congratulate the Honourable Minister for the big achievement that Nigeria has managed to achieve at the last UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand,” he said.
He expressed UNESCO’s pride in Nigeria’s leadership and international example.
He said, “To have the first in the world Media and Information Literacy Institute established here is something we are very proud of. Nigeria is showing the example, not only in Africa, but also across the world.”
Dr Abiaga stressed that Nigeria’s success represents a continental victory.
“If we succeed in Nigeria, it is the whole of Africa which succeeds,” he stated.
Other highlights of the event included the Minister’s presentation of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s CONNECT Magazine to the visiting UNESCO team, showcasing national communication strategies, public awareness initiatives, and development-focused storytelling led by the Ministry.
Confidence Okwuchi