Address by The HMIC, Alh. Lai Mohammed at The Inauguration of The LOC For The Hosting of The Global Media And Information Literacy Week

ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE, ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED. AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE HOSTING OF THE GLOBAL MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY WEEK, 2022 – FEATURE CONFERENCE AND YOUTH FORUM,  ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 5TH 2022, AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, RADIO HOUSE, ABUJA

Protocol

I want to most sincerely welcome you all to this inauguration of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2022 Global Media and Information Literacy Week, to be hosted by Nigeria from 24th to 31st October

2. Recall that Nigeria was given the hosting mandate for the 2021 edition of this all-important event. However, we had to request to host the 2022 edition to enable us make adequate preparations, especially as the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic were still fully in place last year. The UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, graciously granted our request.
3. The decision to give Nigeria the hosting right is a testament to the fact that the country is a known strong advocate of Media and Information Literacy (MIL). In 2013, Nigeria successfully hosted the First Global Forum for Partnership on MIL, tagged Abuja 2013. This Forum gave birth to the UNESCO MIL Alliance as well as other initiatives, as part of our collective desire to achieve the Media and Information Literacy for all and by all. Nigeria’s contributions towards the birth and the growth of MIL, especially in the West African Sub-Region, played a large role in UNESCO’s decision to offer our country the right to host this event.
4. Hosting the 2022 MIL will go a long way to address the growing trend of fake news, misinformation and hate speech, thus enhancing the campaign we launched in 2018 against these practices.
5. Since we agreed to host the 11th edition of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, we have been working with the UNESCO Secretariat, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja and other stakeholders to host the world to a befitting and memorable event. A critical aspect of this preparation is the choice of the theme and the development of the Concept Note. Permit me to inform you that both have successfully been concluded.
6. Accordingly, the theme of this year’s Global Media and Information Literacy, which has been duly approved by UNESCO, is: “Nurturing Trust: A Media and Information Literacy Imperative.“ The theme highlights how Media and Information Literacy (MIL) helps with nurturing trust and countering mistrust.
7. Ladies and gentlemen, the 2022 Global Media and Literacy Week will bring together participants from over 193 UNESCO member countries, who will participate physically and virtually. In other words, the 2022 GMIL Week will be a hybrid event, with many physically attending here in Abuja, at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, and others joining us virtually. This huge event requires very serious and meticulous planning, hence we have carefully selected into the Local Organizing Committee men and women with great experience and necessary expertise.
   Nigeria is the first country in the West African sub-region to host the event, hence we cannot afford to disappoint. I have no doubt that you will bring your wealth of experience and expertise to play in organising a world class event. Nothing less is expected from a high-calibre team like we have here.
8. The membership of the LOC is drawn from various sectors and agencies, including the public and private sector, academia, security
   and the media. The Committee will be chaired by my humble self, with the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture as Vice Chairperson. The LOC will be assisted by nine sub-committees, which are expected to be constituted by the LOC in its first meeting today. They are Venue and Accommodation; Finance; Sponsorship and Marketing; Media and Publicity; Protocol and Security; Transport and Logistics; Entertainment and Ceremonial; Technical and Mobilization as well as Secretariat sub-committees.
9. Before I inaugurate the LOC, let me thank His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for graciously approving the hosting of this event and also for accepting to declare open the High-level session. I also want to commend Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Dr. Hajio Sani, OON, for her leadership and commitment to a successful hosting. My gratitude also goes to the Assistant Director General, Communication and Information, UNESCO Headquarters, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, and his team for their continuous assistance and
   engagement in ensuring the successful organisation of the 2022 Global Media and Information Literacy Week. Finally, I commend our team here at the Ministry, who have been working assiduously to drive the project to this stage.
10. It is now my pleasure to read out the names of the members of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2022 Global Media and Information Literacy Week. Once your name is mentioned, please stand up and remain standing:

MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

1. Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Honourable Minister of Information and Culture – Chairman
2. Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeoma Adaora Anyanwutaku, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture – Vice Chairperson.
3. Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy
4. Honourable Minister of Education
5. Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs
6. Ambassador/Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Dr. Hajio Sani, OON
7. Acting Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja
8. Mr. Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the President, Office of the Minister of Information and Culture
9. Mr. Williams Adeleye, Special Assistant to the President, Office of the Minister of Information and Culture
10. Mr. Sunday Baba, Director Overseeing Public Communication and National Orientation
11. Dr. Kayode Musbau, Director, Finance and Accounts, FMIC
12. Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Registrar/CEO, AdvertisingPractitioners Council of Nigeria
13. Dr. Mansur Liman, Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria
14. Mr. Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission
15. Mr. Salihu Dembos, Acting Director General, Nigerian Television Authority
16. Prof. Chinwe Victoria Anunobi, National Librarian/CEO, National Library of Nigeria
17. Pst. Idowu Olagunju, Secretary General, NATCOM UNESCO
18. Comptroller General, Nigeria Custom Service
19. Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service
20. President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria
21. President, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria
22. Dr. Chidoh Onumah, Executive Director, African Center for Media and Information (AFRICMIL), representing Civil Society
23. Dr. Suraj Olunifesi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos
24. Mr. David Osaghe, Secretary, Media and Information Literacy Coalition of Nigeria, representing the Youth
25. Mr. Ifeanyi Okereke, Assistant Director (Bilateral/UNESCO), FMIC
26. It is now my pleasure to inaugurate the Local Organizing Committee for the hosting of the 2022 Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
27. My best wishes to you as you embark on the important task before you, and I thank you for your kind attention.