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The Media Advocates for Peace Foundation in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, funded by the UNESCO on Wednesday trained 45 teachers and 20 students on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), in Kaduna.
In his welcome address, the
Head of Abuja Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, said today the world is greatly influenced by digital technologies which has affected the ways people inform, educate, and organize themselves, bringing unprecedented opportunities for expression and access to information.
Represented by Ms Nuhu Yachat, Officer in Charge of UNESCO Communication and Information Sector, Diallo who noted that in an era where the digital realm has become an integral part of our daily lives, we must recognize that MIL is not merely a choice, but a necessity.
He said MIL provides essential skills for people to navigate the complex media landscape and make informed decisions, to actively participate in governance, economic processes and cultural exchanges. “It is a vital skill that empowers individuals to navigate, critically assess, and contribute to the media landscape. MIL provides a wide range opportunities for access to information, creation and sharing of knowledge, thereby, enriching exchange as well as intercultural dialogue,” Diallo added.
He however, said with the rise of dis-misinformation, online fake news and cyberbullying, and the unethical use of AI, we must massively upscale efforts to teach people, mostly young people, how to think critically about information and use of digital tools.
“The Internet has catalyzed innovation across all spheres of contemporary life and between wide ranges of actors. Thus, it is imperative to educate young people with Media and Information Literacy skills which are a set of competences that enable people to search, access, evaluate, use, and contribute information and media content wisely.
“UNESCO recently worked with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) ahead of the planned national curriculum review. That intervention was in line with the institutions national mapping and NEEDS assessment ahead of the review where the issue of MIL was strongly identified.
“Thus, UNESCO worked with the institution towards increasing the understanding of identified experts on the concept of MIL and participatorily identify the best strategy for reflecting MIL in the various elements of the curriculum and particularly linking Media and Information Literacy to emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, digital citizenship education, education for sustainable development goals, cultural literacy and the exponential rise in misinformation and disinformation.
“Our being here today is a result of one of the key recommendations from that workshop which identified the need to work with teachers towards building their capacity as it relates to MIL. This is also in line with UNESCO’s believe that equipping teachers with MIL competencies and skills, will in the long run provide a multiplier effect, from information literate teachers to their students and by large to the society.
“Building the capacity of teachers on the concept of MIL will enhance their ability to inculcate and transfer these knowledge and skills to the students and participatorily identify the best strategy for reflecting MIL in their various engagement within the society at large,” he said.
Speaking to newsmen at Rimi College, venue of the training, the Coordinator of Media Advocates, organizers of the training, Dr. Jamil Muhammad, said 15 teachers each were drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state, while the 20 students were selected from schools in Kaduna metropolitan city.
He also disclosed that the first phase of the training started last week in Jos, the Plateau State capital where teachers were also trained on MIL; adding that the Foundation hope to step down the training to all schools in Kaduna State after the success of the pilot programme.
Speaking on the aim of the training, a Facilitator, Professor Sarah Benjamin Lohas, who noted that the knowledge about MIL is life long, said the idea is to ensure that people have skills and confidence to be able to understand the content of information they either gather or disseminate because knowledge of the information they disseminate is very important in helping people make right decisions.
She said the UNESCO on its part has made it easier for the people by bringing out specific frameworks in which people can understand how to utilize information adequately which is where the MIL comes in.
Prof Lohas said at the end of the workshop the beneficiaries would be able to understand what information to source for, where to source it from and how to utilize such information. They will equally be able to understand digital technology to an extent such as some of the overlapping areas in MIL.
The Vice Principal (Admin) of Rimi College, Bariatu Nur Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of all the beneficiaries commended organizers of the training, saying it was timely.
According to her, the training will equip them with the right information to teach, and also assist them fact-check information before passing out same to the students for a peaceful society.
The Deputy Director, Public Schools Department, Kaduna State Ministry of Education (MoE), Laraban Hassan, who represented the Director, Mukhtar Maude attended the opening ceremony.
