The Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reiterated the government’s commitment to establishing a UNESCO Category 2 Institute for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Nigeria.
This announcement followed a meeting with UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, during the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, France.
Nigeria’s pledge to host this institute originated from the 2022 UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week, held in Abuja in October 2022, and was later endorsed by a UNESCO Executive Board resolution in May 2023.
During the meeting, Nigeria’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Dr. Hajo Sani, was also present.
Minister Idris expressed Nigeria’s commitment to UNESCO’s vision and revealed that the country, while preparing to step down from the Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), is simultaneously seeking election to the Intergovernmental Council of the Information for All Programme (IFAP).
The Minister emphasized his determination to make the most of UNESCO’s Communications and Information Sector opportunities, including supporting community radio, a key UNESCO priority.
He mentioned his vision of restoring trust in government communications in Nigeria and initiating a national conversation about Nigerian values and identity as part of a national reorientation campaign, a priority for the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration.
Minister Idris expressed gratitude to Ambassador Hajo Sani for her diligent representation of Nigeria’s interests at UNESCO and her role in facilitating Nigeria’s hosting of the 2022 UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Week and plans for hosting the world’s first UNESCO MIL Institute.
In response, UNESCO’s Dr. Jelassi commended Nigeria’s active participation and pledged continued support for the country’s information and communication development efforts.
He outlined UNESCO’s ongoing work in areas such as promoting press freedom, supporting community radio, and addressing misinformation and hate speech. Dr. Jelassi also mentioned UNESCO’s recent report on the governance of digital platforms, emphasizing a multistakeholder approach to protect freedom of expression and access to information.
He stressed the importance of Nigeria’s follow-up on the Abuja Declaration, describing it as a significant opportunity for the country.
Earlier, Minister Mohammed Idris joined the Nigerian delegation, including the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, at the opening ceremony of the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference. Prof. Mamman also serves as the President of Nigeria’s National Commission to UNESCO.
