The Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to establishing a UNESCO Category 2 Institute for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in the country. This resolute commitment was highlighted during a bilateral meeting with Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, at UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference in Paris, France.
Nigeria’s pledge to host and establish the Institute stemmed from the 2022 UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week held in Abuja in October 2022. This commitment was subsequently endorsed by a Resolution of the 216th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in May 2023.
The meeting, held at UNESCO headquarters, was also attended by Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Dr. Hajo Sani, affirming Nigeria’s dedication to UNESCO’s vision and principles.
Minister Idris, demonstrating his commitment to enhancing the media and information landscape, expressed his determination to seize all available opportunities within the UNESCO Communications and Information Sector. This includes the promotion of community radio, which stands as one of UNESCO’s ongoing priorities.
In his remarks, Minister Idris articulated his vision to restore trust and credibility in government communications in Nigeria. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of initiating a national dialogue regarding Nigerian values and identity as part of a national reorientation campaign—a priority for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr. Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General, commended Nigeria’s active participation in UNESCO and pledged ongoing support to the country in utilizing opportunities for the development of its information and communication domain. He also outlined UNESCO’s ongoing initiatives, from global press freedom promotion to combating misinformation and disinformation.
Furthermore, he revealed the recent launch of a UNESCO report titled ‘Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms,’ underlining the significance of a multi-stakeholder approach to uphold freedom of expression and information access.
The meeting served as a productive engagement for Minister Idris, who expressed his deep passion for this sector, pledging full support and cooperation with UNESCO in pursuit of their shared objectives.
Previously, Minister Idris, along with other members of the Nigerian delegation, including the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who doubles as President of Nigeria’s National Commission to UNESCO, participated in the opening ceremony of the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference.
