UNESCO’s Abuja Director, Abdourahmane Diallo, has advised African citizens to strengthen their media and information literacy (MIL) skills, emphasising the importance of critical thinking in navigating the modern digital environment.
In a recent interview with Techpression at UNESCO’s Abuja office, Mr Diallo explained that information literacy equips people to understand, evaluate, and responsibly engage with the constant flow of digital content.
“Media information literacy is to equip the citizen to have the skills, the attitude to be able to decrypt and navigate in this ecosystem and this new landscape with the information,” Mr Diallo shared, underscoring MIL’s role in empowering individuals to think critically in an age where misinformation is prevalent. “It’s not just about recognising A-B-C-D. We have to decrypt and say, ‘Wait, it’s A-B-D-C.'”
He noted that this skill is vital for people across Africa to handle the surge of information that technology enables and distinguish between genuine and misleading content.
As the world marks Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week 2024, UNESCO’s commitment to bridging digital literacy gap resonates with the year’s theme, “The new digital frontiers of information: Media and Information Literacy for public-interest information”.
Mr Diallo highlighted UNESCO’s collaborative work with Nigeria’s educational institutions to embed MIL in school curricula, giving students the tools to analyse media content critically. “In Nigeria, we work with [the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council]… We train the experts on MIL, how they will infuse and include in the curricula doses of MIL at the different levels,” he explained, illustrating UNESCO’s mission to build a culture of responsible media engagement from a young age.
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Tackling misinformation through education
The rise of misinformation poses a significant challenge for Africa, where misleading narratives can heavily influence public opinion and perception. Mr Diallo underscored that UNESCO’s commitment to MIL education is crucial to counter this challenge.
He commended Nigeria’s role in setting the standard for West Africa. “Nigeria has taken significant strides in the region by fostering digital literacy policies, the country showed the leadership, its willingness really to address this topic, and the country became a leader in the region,” Mr Diallo remarked.
Ethical AI and Responsible Data Use
Given AI’s increasing influence in media and information, he stressed the need for ethical standards and discussed UNESCO’s stance on artificial intelligence (AI) and data ethics.
“UNESCO developed these recommendations on the ethical use of artificial intelligence, and more than 190 countries agreed and adopted it,” he shared, referencing the 2021 AI ethics guidelines.
“We have to ensure that this use is really ethical and keep men, human, women, and men at the centre of it,” he added, underlining the importance of ethical AI that respects human values.
Read also: UNESCO launches AI readiness assessment methodology in Nigeria
Holistic collaboration for effective media literacy
Mr Diallo further noted that advancing MIL requires a united effort from civil society, tech companies, and community organisations. “Our response is holistic… and tries to address the world component of the societies,” he said, emphasising that creating a resilient media environment requires a collective commitment to sharing accurate information. “Addressing misinformation is a collective effort. We work directly with media houses, NGOs, and influencers to ensure the right messages reach all sectors of society,” he continued.
As Global MIL Week 2024 is ongoing, Mr Diallo’s remarks underscore the need to empower citizens with the right understanding of MIL in Africa’s digital landscape for the public good. His insights are a timely reminder of the need for media and information literacy to strengthen public resilience, promote truth, and ensure that African societies thrive in the digital age.