The Federal Government has called for a concerted national effort to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and international reputation against a wave of “false narratives and contrived misinformation” purportedly engineered by foreign interests.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, sounded the alarm on Tuesday during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters.
In a statement delivered in Abuja, Minister Idris emphasized that protecting the nation’s image is a collective responsibility, urging media practitioners and the public to reject divisive falsehoods. “We all have a responsibility to project the truth and protect Nigeria’s image. Misinformation has the capacity to divide nations, and we must not allow that to happen to ours,” Idris asserted.
The Minister positioned the newly established International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) as a cornerstone of this defensive strategy. Hosted by NOUN and slated for formal certification at the upcoming UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, IMILI is envisioned as a strategic national asset.
“IMILI is not only an educational initiative but also a strategic national investment in truth, literacy, and civic enlightenment,” Idris stated, confirming his ministry’s collaboration with NOUN and UNESCO to secure ratification. He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to position Nigeria as a African leader in promoting information integrity.
The government has backed its commitment with a substantial ₦250 million grant to facilitate the institute’s development. In his response, Professor Olufemi Peters expressed gratitude for the trust and funding, assuring that NOUN is fully prepared for IMILI’s global accreditation.
“NOUN is fully prepared for the global accreditation of IMILI as a UNESCO Category Two Institute,” Professor Peters stated, guaranteeing the university’s institutional capacity, digital infrastructure, and academic expertise to ensure the institute’s success and international relevance.
