The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, in collaboration with Media Awareness and Information for All Network, MAIN, has organised a two-day training workshop for media managers, senior journalists and content creators in North-West Nigeria.
The training is to strengthen the capacity of media institutions, journalists and social media content creators to develop and integrate Media and Information Literacy, MIL, policy into their editorials and contents.
The training, titled, “Integrating Media and Information Literacy, MIL, into Editorial Policies of Media Organizations and Social Media Content Creators”, was declared open by the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Waiya.
The commissioner noted that there were so many media organisations operating in Nigeria, particularly online, which had been actively performing their traditional role of informing, educating and entertaining the public.
He said, however, that there was the need to take seriously, the issue of media and information literacy.
Said he: “Media education is important. Therefore, this training workshop cannot come at a better time when many people on the street are now assuming the role of a journalist, even though they do not have any experience or professional training. All they have is just a smartphone and internet access.”
In the context of countering misinformation and disinformation, Waiya called on all media chief executives and senior editors to put in place an operational procedure that would ensure the integrity of the information ecosystem.
The Head of Office and Representative (AI) of UNESCO Office in Abuja, Mr. Albert Mendy, described the role of media executives as pivotal.
“Your leadership in promoting ethical, inclusive, and MIL-informed journalism will not only enhance the quality of news and information but will also contribute to rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic engagement,” he said.
The UNESCO Head of Office, represented by Ms Yachat Nuhu of the UNESCO Abuja Communication and Information Sector, urged the participants to use the workshop platform to exchange ideas, share best practices, and identify sustainable strategies for embedding MIL into the culture of journalism.
Mendy said, “By doing so, we affirm the media’s enduring role as a public good and a cornerstone of freedom of expression.”
He thanked the government of Kano State for always associating with UNESCO-led activities.
“We would also like to express our appreciation to our implementing partner Media and Information for All Network (MAIN) for their steadfast collaboration and shared commitment to empowering media actors across Nigeria,” he said.
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The Zonal Director of National Broadcasting Commission, Alhaji Jamilu Yahaya Jega, noted that “As a regulatory body committed to fostering responsible broadcasting and content creation, we recognise that Media and Information Literacy represents a critical foundation for building an informed citizenry.”
Represented by the NBC Kano State Director, Alhaji Adamu Salisu, the Zonal Director affirmed that the integration of MIL principles into editorial policies was not merely a theoretical exercise but a practical necessity.
“When media organisations and content creators embed these principles into their operational frameworks, they significantly contribute to elevating professional standards, promoting ethical practices, and enhancing public trust. This workshop, therefore, addresses one of the most pressing needs in our contemporary media ecosystem,” Alhaji Jega said.
Welcoming the participants, the chairman of MAIN, Prof Jide Jimoh, highlighted the threats posed by widespread cases of misinformation and disinformation to ethical journalism and democratic engagement.
He urged the participants to seize the opportunity of the training to deepen their knowledge of the intersection of MIL and ethical journalism and media practice.
The training was attended by by 30 senior management staff of 25 media organisations, including radio, television, newspapers and social media platforms, in seven North-Western states.
