Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says the Nigerian authorities stays dedicated to establishing a UNESCO Category 2 Institute for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Nigeria.
The Minister reiterated the dedication throughout a bilateral assembly with the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, on the sidelines of UNESCO’s forty second General Conference in Paris.
The proposed Institute would be the first of its form in Africa and can function a hub for analysis, coaching and capability constructing in media and data literacy.
The institute will even present a platform for the change of concepts and finest practices amongst media professionals, educators, and policymakers.
“This is a sector that I am deeply passionate about,” the Minister mentioned in an official assertion.
“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 ascertain 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 institution of the UNESCO Category 2 Institute for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) will mark a big step in direction of selling media and data literacy in Nigeria, serving to to construct a crucial mass of media professionals who’re outfitted with the abilities and information to navigate the advanced media panorama of the twenty first century.
Nigeria at UNESCO
Also current on the bilateral assembly, which held on 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 illustration of Nigeria’s pursuits at UNESCO and the important thing function she performed in facilitating Nigeria’s internet hosting of the 2022 UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Week, and the plans for Nigeria to host the primary UNESCO MIL Institute in the world.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General, Dr. Jelassi, counseled Nigeria’s energetic participation in UNESCO, and pledged to proceed to assist the nation to take full benefit of all alternatives for the event of its data and communication house.
He outlined UNESCO’s ongoing work in varied areas, from selling press freedom around the globe, to supporting the event of neighborhood radio, and the continuing work to harmonize nationwide efforts to struggle misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.
He disclosed that UNESCO has simply 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 different members of the Nigerian delegation, together with the Leader of the delegation, the Honorable Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who additionally doubles as President of Nigeria’s National Commission to UNESCO), to take part in the opening ceremony for the forty second session of the UNESCO General Conference.
