The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has cautioned that the absence of media and information literacy among public officials leaves them highly susceptible to fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
Speaking at the opening of the second Spokespersons Summit on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister stressed that the ability to critically assess media content is no longer optional in today’s information-driven society.
The summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, brought together public communicators and information managers across government and private sectors.
“In a world where everyone is a spokesperson – whether a PR practitioner or a chief executive – media literacy is essential,” Idris said.
“It equips individuals with the tools to decipher, analyse, and evaluate messages conveyed through various channels, enabling informed decision-making and responsible engagement with media content.”
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The Minister explained that media literacy combines the competencies of information literacy and media literacy, as adopted by UNESCO in 2008.
He warned that the inability to contextualize and verify media content had made public officials and the general populace increasingly vulnerable to the “cankerworm” of misinformation.
To address this challenge, Idris announced that plans were at an advanced stage for the launch of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute—the first of its kind globally.
The institute, to be located within the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, aims to equip public officials with the skills to critically evaluate news articles, detect bias, assess source credibility, and implement fact-checking methods.
“I have just returned from Paris where I met with senior UNESCO officials to finalize discussions on the Institute’s imminent take-off,” he revealed.
In further efforts to professionalize public communication, Idris highlighted the successful caderisation of Public Relations in the Federal Civil Service.
Effective from December 2023, the erstwhile Information Officer Cadre has been re-designated as the “Information and Public Relations Officer Cadre,” acknowledging the vital role of PR professionals.
He credited NIPR for being a key advocate in achieving this milestone.
The Minister also reiterated the Tinubu Administration’s commitment to free speech and creative expression.
“We will continue to broaden our nation’s vibrant media ecosystem and grow the economic and investment opportunities within it,” he assured.
Commending NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, Idris praised the introduction of the Information Ministerial Clinic, a new feature of this year’s summit.
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The clinic hosted former Ministers of Information who shared their experiences navigating complex communication challenges while in office.
Participants included Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief John Nwodo, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr., Labaran Maku, and Lai Mohammed.
The summit continues with sessions aimed at enhancing public communication and advancing media literacy among spokespersons nationwide.
