Nigeria has achieved a historic milestone with the formal approval by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to host the world’s first Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMLI) in Abuja.
The landmark decision was ratified at the 43rd General Conference of UNESCO’s Communication and Information Commission (CI Session) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, positioning Nigeria as a global hub for media literacy, research, and the fight against misinformation and disinformation.
In his address to the conference, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the designation as “a strong vote of confidence in our nation,” reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to promoting responsible digital citizenship and informed media consumption.
“The Nigerian government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to fostering a society where responsible free speech is seen as the engine of national progress,” Idris said. “Media and information literacy will be central to our effort to democratize digital opportunities.”
The minister noted that the approval marks the culmination of a journey that began in October 2022, when Nigeria hosted the 10th Global Media and Information Literacy Week and Feature Conference in Abuja and pledged to establish a UNESCO-affiliated institute.
He praised President Tinubu’s leadership, describing the achievement as “a big win for Nigeria and the African continent,” and assured continued collaboration with UNESCO to develop the Institute’s infrastructure and assemble a multidisciplinary team of experts to drive its global mandate.
The formal launch of the Institute is scheduled for February 2026 in Abuja, with top UNESCO officials, member states, and strategic partners expected to attend.
Prominent Nigerian officials at the UNESCO General Conference included:
Senator Engr. Kenneth Eze, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation
Hon. Olusola Fatoba, Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Ethics, and Values
Dr. Mohammed Bulama, Director General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), representing the Minister
Malam Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos, Director General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director General, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON)
Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON)
Dr. Hajo Sani, Nigeria’s Ambassador to UNESCO