Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Nigeria has confirmed February 2026 as the official start date for the world’s first UNESCO Category 2 Media and Information Literacy Centre, to be hosted in Abuja. The announcement was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a meeting with UNESCO’s Head of Office and Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga. The decision signals Nigeria’s drive to strengthen global action against misinformation and elevate media literacy standards.
During the meeting, the Minister disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had issued firm directives for immediate operational readiness. He emphasized that the Centre represents a major national and international undertaking, one that the Federal Government is prepared to support fully. He described the Institute as an institution designed not only for Nigeria but for the global community, with a mandate to help nations better manage fake news, digital manipulation, and information disorder. According to him, its establishment aligns with the national orientation campaign under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to empower citizens with reliable and constructive information.
Dr. Abiaga praised Nigeria’s leadership in securing the first Media and Information Literacy Centre of its kind anywhere in the world. He stated that the milestone achieved at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand reflects both national and continental progress. He also noted that the Institute’s success in Nigeria would serve as a model for other countries, reaffirming Africa’s growing influence in global knowledge development.
To ensure the Centre’s timely launch, the Minister highlighted ongoing steps including the completion of legal and operational frameworks and the appointment of a pioneer Director-General. He added that work is already underway to create internationally competitive training programmes covering media professionals, policymakers, researchers, educators, youth leaders and digital communicators from within and outside Africa. In addition, the government will intensify collaboration with UNESCO and the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO to guarantee that the Institute delivers meaningful global impact.
Stone Reporters draws attention to the parallel between this development and earlier global attempts to institutionalise media literacy, where several nations struggled to move beyond policy statements. Nigeria’s readiness to operationalise its centre places it among a small group of countries translating advocacy into concrete structures for public benefit.
Professional observation shows that the Centre’s establishment may significantly shape the regional fight against misinformation, especially at a time when digital narratives influence national cohesion, public policy and democratic stability.
With Nigeria taking on this global responsibility, the Institute’s opening in February 2026 stands poised to set a benchmark for media and information literacy training worldwide, reinforcing the country’s position as a key contributor to international information governance.
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