The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has sounded a strong warning to public officers on the dangers of lacking media and information literacy, stating that in today’s complex media environment, ignorance makes individuals susceptible to fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.

The Minister gave this charge on Tuesday at the second Spokespersons Summit held in Abuja, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

In his keynote address, Idris emphasized the growing necessity for public officials and communicators to develop competencies in media and information literacy, a composite concept pioneered by UNESCO in 2008.

“Today, in a world where everyone is a spokesperson – whether a PR practitioner or a chief executive – the imperative for media literacy becomes ever more paramount,” he said. “It equips individuals with the tools to decipher, analyze, and evaluate messages conveyed through various media channels, enabling them to make informed decisions and engage responsibly.”

He noted that the increasing circulation of misleading information across digital platforms has left many public officers vulnerable, primarily due to their inability to verify the authenticity and context of the content they encounter.

“Lately, due in effect to the lack of media literacy… public officers, and indeed the general public, have become prone to the cankerworm of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation,” he warned.

To address this challenge, the Minister disclosed that plans are at an advanced stage for the establishment of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute, to be sited within the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.

“In fact, I have just returned from Paris, France, where I held a meeting with senior UNESCO officials, in which the impending take-off of the Institute featured prominently,” Idris revealed.

In a significant policy update, the Minister announced the successful cadre restructuring of Public Relations roles within the Federal Civil Service, achieved in 2023. With this development, PR has become a recognized standalone cadre, transitioning from the traditional “Information Officer” designation to “Information and Public Relations Officer” and “Executive Officer (Information and Public Relations)”.

He commended the NIPR for its pivotal role in this milestone, which aims to strengthen professional communication in the public sector.

Reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to free speech and creative expression, Idris said the government will continue to expand Nigeria’s dynamic media landscape and unlock economic opportunities within it.

The Minister also applauded NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, for introducing the Information Ministerial Clinic to this year’s summit. The Clinic featured former Ministers of Information—Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief John Nwodo, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., Labaran Maku, and Lai Mohammed—who shared valuable insights from their time managing national communication challenges.

“This is an outstanding initiative that brings institutional memory and firsthand experience into the learning process for present and aspiring government spokespersons,” he said.

The Spokespersons Summit continues to serve as a vital platform for strengthening professional standards and equipping Nigeria’s communicators with the tools needed to navigate an ever-evolving media environment.