CurrentReport Blog The Federal Government of Nigeria has emphasized the urgent need for public office holders and citizens to acquire media and information literacy (MIL) skills to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the country.
The call was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during the Second Spokespersons Summit held in Abuja, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in collaboration with the ministry.
Speaking at the event, the minister lamented the impact of fake news, stressing that many Nigerians are falling victim to falsehoods and biased narratives due to a widespread lack of media literacy.
“In today’s media-saturated world, the ability to analyze, decipher and evaluate information is no longer optional,” Idris said. “Public officers and the general public have become prone to the cankerworm of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.”
To address this challenge, Idris announced that plans are in advanced stages to establish a UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute in Nigeria. The institute will be located within the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) premises in Abuja.
“I have just returned from Paris, where I held meetings with senior UNESCO officials, and the impending take-off of the institute was a key focus,” the minister revealed.
He further disclosed that the ministry’s efforts led to the formal caderisation of Public Relations as a standalone cadrewithin the Federal Civil Service, effective from December 2023—a significant move aimed at improving the quality of public communication.
The summit was graced by several high-profile dignitaries, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, former Minister Lai Mohammed, current lawmakers, and other key stakeholders in the communications sector.
