ABUJA, FCT– Nigeria has actually secured a central role in the global fight against disinformation as UNESCO inaugurates the world’s first International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI).
The landmark facility, a partnership in between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Federal Government of Nigeria, is hosted at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) head office in Abuja.
The inauguration, held on Friday, Might 1, 2026, positions Nigeria and the African continent at the forefront of worldwide efforts to improve critical thinking and democratic engagement in the digital age.
A Historical Center for Truth and Innovation
Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Interaction and Details (ADG/CI), explained the institute as a “historic turning point.”
She stressed that in a period of rapid details development, the ability to discern trustworthy content from “fake news” is no longer a high-end but a necessary survival skill.
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The Core Required of IMILI:
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Global Research Study: Serving as a primary center for studying the advancement of information trends and digital principles.
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Capacity Development: Supplying sophisticated training for teachers, media experts, and policy-makers.
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Policy Assistance: Helping federal governments in drafting structures to counter false information while safeguarding flexibility of speech.
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Innovation: Establishing new digital tools to help citizens critically engage with online material.
Reinforcing Democratic Strength
The institute is designed to be transformative, empowering citizens to move from being passive customers of details to active, informed participants in democratic procedures.
Ms Gabriel kept in mind that IMILI will provide the worldwide community with the necessary tools to navigate the “contemporary period’s info difficulties.”
The inauguration drew considerable participation from the highest levels of the Nigerian federal government, showing the nation’s commitment to the task.
Secret Figures at the Inauguration:
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Senator George Akume: Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who provided a goodwill message.
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Mohammed Malagi: Minister of Info and National Orientation, highlighting the institute’s function in national reorientation.
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Dr Suwaiba Ahmad: Minister of State for Education, concentrating on the combination of media literacy into school curricula.
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Prof. Uduma Uduma: Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, representing the host institution.
Why NOUN?
The selection of the National Open University of Nigeria as the host is tactical, given the institution’s robust digital facilities and its mandate for open and range knowing.
This permits the institute’s resources to be accessible to a huge network of students across Africa and beyond, satisfying UNESCO’s vision of a genuinely “global hub.”
As IMILI starts its operations, stakeholders are positive that the “Abuja Model” for media literacy will work as a blueprint for other regions struggling with the disruptive effects of digital false information and cognitive warfare.