NOUN to host workshops on media, information literacy

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024

By Felix Khanoba

In celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Day, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja will host two workshops focused on the importance of media and information literacy in building an informed society.

The workshops, which both revolve around the theme “New Digital Frontiers of Information: Media and Information Literacy for Public Interest Information,” are scheduled for Thursday, October 24, and Friday, October 25, 2024. The events will take place at the Conference Hall of NOUN’s headquarters in Abuja, starting at 10:00 a.m.

A statement from NOUN’s Director of Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Sheme, on Tuesday, revealed that the workshops are a collaborative effort involving the Federal Ministry of Information, the International Media and Information Literacy Institute of NOUN (IMILI-NOUN), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to the Head, Mass Communication Department, NOUN, who is also the host, Dr. Lateef Adelakun, the thrust of the first-day workshop was to address the challenges of misinformation and promote strategies to verify and share accurate information, highlight the significance of media and information literacy in today’s digital age.

Community engagement through targeted campaigns in religious institutions and educational settings would also form part of the focus of the workshop, as organisers hope to encourage responsible media consumption and dissemination among all age groups, especially the youth.

Students of Mass Communication, educators, and members of the university community are among the primary participants for the first session.

Dr. Jacob Shagbaor Suemo of Nile University of Nigeria will serve as the guest speaker for the first day, while NOUN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, will act as the chief host for both events.

According to the statement, the second workshop, scheduled for October 25, will cater to policy makers, communication professionals, civil society organizations, and academics.

Mardia Umar, a broadcast journalist with EFCC Radio, Abuja, will be the guest speaker for the session, according to Adelakun.

Global MIL Week is an annual event dedicated to promoting media and information literacy worldwide, celebrating progress, and fostering initiatives aimed at empowering people through access to reliable information.