Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has advocated for global standards in the fight against fake news
This is as the minister also urged media practitioners to self-regulate the media space, explaining that it would help remove the misinterpretations that usually follow government actions.
According to a statement by Suleiman Haruna, Deputy Director, Press, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Idris was quoted to have disclosed an audience with the Country Representative of UNESCO, Abdurrahman Diallo.
The Minister urged media practitioners to take the lead in sanitizing the media space to reduce the impact of fake news.
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The minister noted that the media should self-regulate its space rather than the government, which might be misinterpreted as oppression. “With each fake news, online media loses credibility more.”
He also commended UNESCO for being at the forefront of fighting misinformation and disinformation and for its effort to develop global standards for regulating social media.
He said this is important because countries can domesticate it and won’t be seen to be gagging the press.
He also called for the promotion of community radio as part of the inclusive society’s mandate of UNESCO. That will bridge the information gap as citizens will have avenues for expression and feedback.
On the newly approved Category 2 International Institute of Information and Media Literacy, he commended UNESCO and called for support in its establishment.
He commended UNESCO for approving a Nigeria office and called on them to continue to use Nigeria as an expert hub for the African region.
Earlier, the Country Representative of UNESCO, Abdourrahmane Diallo, had congratulated Nigeria on its election into the Executive Board of UNESCO, describing this as a milestone and a confirmation of Nigeria’s position among member states. He promised to continue working with the ministry in media and information literacy, media independence, and media inclusion.