UN grants Nigeria right to operate UNESCO media literacy centre
The federal government said the United Nations General Assembly has finally granted Nigeria the right to host and operate the UNESCO Category 2 Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja.
The right was granted at a meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said this during the certification at a World News Conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
Mr Idris said that the remarkable achievement was realised by President Bola Tinubu’s absolute commitment to the project.
“The process started before I was appointed as the Minister of Information and National Orientation in 2023. When I briefed the president on the project, he said he is ready to do everything possible to ensure that the project becomes a reality. Today, we have won the right, and henceforth Nigeria will be a Centre for International Media and Information Literacy,” Mr Idris said.
He also announced that Nigeria would host the 2026 African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference and the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Abuja.
He said this would make Nigeria the first African country to host both global events in the same year.
“Nigeria has also accepted to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute (IPI),” the minister said.
He pledged the government’s continued collaboration with UNESCO to meet the Institute’s infrastructure needs.
He said it would also strengthen governance capacity by assembling a multidisciplinary team of experts to actualise the global mandate.
Mr Idris said that the formal inauguration of the institute was expected to be held in February 2026, in Abuja.
The UNESCO Category 2 Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja would equip the team to forensically debunk falsehoods.
It would equally enable them to trace malicious campaigns and saturate the digital space with credible, engaging content that reclaims the national story.
The institute is sited at the National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Education
UNILAG urges students to verify payment channels amid fraud reports
UNILAG advised students to report any individual, group or message soliciting payments into a personal account.
NationWide
EFCC hands over $3 million, N1.3 billion unpaid revenue recovered from two oil firms to RMAFC
The commission said both companies accepted their respective liabilities and began making payments into its recovery accounts domiciled with the CBN.
States
Insecurity: NSCDC urges collaboration with private security firms in Akwa Ibom
Mr Olariche said effective collaboration would promote the campaign against insecurity.
States
Nasarawa govt., partners to distribute 1.8 million mosquito nets to residents
Mr Gaza said the exercise was part of renewed efforts by the government to combat malaria and protect residents.
NationWide
APC names Yari, Alake, Idris as only campaign council spokespersons
According to the statement, all previously announced spokespersons will now be absorbed into the media directorate.
States
Kaduna WEE Policy: Group seeks N5 billion allocation in 2027 budget
The director noted that effective implementation would help address economic and socio-cultural barriers confronting women.
