Nigeria and Türkiye have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in strategic communication, media development, cultural exchange and the fight against misinformation and disinformation.
The commitment followed a bilateral meeting in Istanbul between Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Türkiye’s Head of the Directorate of Communications, Professor Burhanettin Duran, on the sidelines of the TRT World Forum on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
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Idris thanked the Turkish Government for inviting Nigeria to the forum, noting that both countries shared common interests in promoting international peace, security, cultural understanding and economic development.
He described Türkiye’s growing engagement with Africa, particularly Nigeria, as an opportunity to expand mutually beneficial partnerships, while commending the Turkish Government for hosting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier in the year.
The Minister also praised the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) for expanding its presence in Africa through its Hausa-language service, engagement with Nigerian media professionals and provision of training opportunities.
He expressed Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with Türkiye in tackling fake news, misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence, which he described as growing threats to public trust, social cohesion and national security.
Idris stressed the importance of international partnerships, responsible deployment of emerging technologies and improved media literacy in addressing challenges within the rapidly evolving information environment.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s hosting of the world’s first Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute, describing it as a platform for international collaboration, professional training and building resilience against information disorder.
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The Minister expressed optimism about welcoming Professor Duran to Nigeria to further strengthen bilateral relations and explore practical areas of cooperation.
In his response, Professor Duran described Nigeria as an important regional and international partner, citing its strategic position, cultural diversity and professional capacity.
He expressed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening cultural relations and professional exchanges with Nigeria, particularly through institutional partnerships in communication and broadcasting.
Duran also welcomed the proposed signing and activation of Memoranda of Understanding between relevant Turkish institutions and Nigeria’s public media organisations, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Voice of Nigeria (VON).
He said the agreements would provide a framework for cooperation in broadcasting, content exchange, professional training and technical development.
The Turkish communications chief further invited Nigeria to participate in the Sixth International Strategic Communication Summit scheduled to hold in Istanbul in January 2027.
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The summit is expected to focus on strengthening international collaboration, improving coordination and developing strategic communication responses to emerging global challenges.
Both officials agreed to sustain engagements and strengthen institutional partnerships, with a shared commitment to using communication and cultural diplomacy to promote international peace, security and mutual development.