President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of funds for the establishment of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute in Nigeria, a significant step towards operationalizing the world’s only Category 2 MIL Institute. The announcement was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a meeting with UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, on the sidelines of President Tinubu’s recent State Visit to France.
The MIL Institute will be situated in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, marking a milestone in the country’s growing role in global media literacy efforts. Idris emphasized the government’s commitment to the project, noting that President Tinubu’s approval of the necessary funds reflects the administration’s strong support for the initiative. The Minister further expressed Nigeria’s eagerness to leverage this opportunity and make the country a key player in UNESCO’s vision for Media and Information Literacy.
Dr. Jelassi praised Nigeria for being chosen to host the MIL Institute, highlighting its potential to address pressing global issues such as misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. The institute will play a pivotal role in promoting a safer and more reliable digital space, aligning with UNESCO’s key priorities. He also introduced the UNESCO MIL Cities initiative, which aims to incorporate media and information literacy into the infrastructure and daily life of cities worldwide.
In the meeting, Dr. Jelassi also discussed UNESCO’s 2023 Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, designed to encourage critical thinking and platform transparency while protecting freedom of expression. The guidelines, the result of a consultation process involving over 10,000 submissions from 134 countries, aim to create a more accountable and responsible digital ecosystem globally. Minister Idris assured Dr. Jelassi that Nigeria would work with all relevant stakeholders to implement these guidelines and foster a safer internet environment for its citizens.
Idris, accompanied by Nigeria’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Dr. Hajo Sani, reiterated the country’s gratitude to UNESCO for awarding it the hosting rights for the MIL Institute. This development is seen as a significant achievement for Nigeria and a key step in the global effort to enhance media literacy and combat digital misinformation.
