UNESCO Approves Nigeria As Host Of World’s First International Media And Information Literacy Institute

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigeria has secured global recognition as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has approved the establishment of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMLI) in Abuja, the first Category-2 institute of its kind in the world.

The landmark decision was taken at the 43rd General Conference of UNESCO’s Communication and Information Commission held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

With the approval, Nigeria becomes a global hub for advancing media and information literacy, strengthening the fight against misinformation and disinformation, and promoting research, policy dialogue, and digital capacity building across nations.

Speaking at the conference, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the approval as “a strong vote of confidence in our nation,” reaffirming the country’s readiness to lead in fostering responsible digital citizenship.

“The Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to fostering a society where responsible free speech is seen as the engine of national progress. A central pillar of our strategy is the democratisation of digital opportunities, with media and information literacy as the key driver,” Idris said.

The minister recalled that the journey to this achievement began in October 2022, when Nigeria hosted the 10th Global Media and Information Literacy and Feature Conference in Abuja and pledged to establish the institute in partnership with UNESCO.

He congratulated President Tinubu, describing the development as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to advancing knowledge, innovation, and global collaboration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This is a big win for all Nigerians and the entire continent of Africa,” Idris stated, pledging that the government would continue to work closely with UNESCO to provide the Institute with world-class infrastructure and governance capacity.

According to the minister, the formal launch of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute is scheduled to hold in February 2026 in Abuja, with top UNESCO officials, member states, and global partners expected to attend.

The Nigerian delegation at the UNESCO General Conference included the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Kenneth Eze; Chairman of the House Committee on Information, National Ethics and Values, Hon. Olusola Fatoba; Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama (who represented the minister); Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Malam Abdulhamid Dembos; Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo; Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace; and Nigeria’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Dr. Hajo San, among other senior officials.

The establishment of the UNESCO International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Nigeria marks a defining moment in Africa’s leadership in global media education and digital integrity.