Nigeria has secured approval from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to host the world’s first Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute, a landmark achievement positioning the country at the forefront of global digital literacy and information integrity efforts.
Category 2 institutes are specialised research and training centres operating under UNESCO’s auspices to support the organisation’s mission. Nigeria’s new MIL institute will be the first of its kind in the world focused exclusively on media and information literacy.
The move builds on Nigeria’s growing leadership in the global MIL movement. The country has long been recognised as a strategic partner in advancing digital literacy, co-founding the UNESCO-supported Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL) and hosting the Global MIL Week in 2022.
The new institute is expected to support international research, training, policy development, youth programmes, and collaborative projects to combat misinformation, strengthen media ethics, and advance responsible digital citizenship. Stakeholders say the initiative will deepen Africa’s participation in global information governance and equip citizens with tools for navigating an increasingly complex media environment.
UNESCO’s endorsement underscores Nigeria’s commitment to fostering media literacy and strengthening democratic information ecosystems at a time when the world faces rising concerns over disinformation, digital manipulation, and online harm.
More details on operational structure, funding partners, and institutional host are expected to be announced by Nigerian authorities and UNESCO in due course.
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