FG lauds NOUN for excellence in Open and Distance Learning

The Federal Government has commended the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for its excellence in promoting Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in the country, especially the provision of access to quality University education to teeming Nigerians.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this when he received a delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters, in Abuja on a courtesy visit.

Idris equally hailed NOUN for its commitment to hosting the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), due for certification in November 2025, at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

He said: “IMILI is not only an educational initiative but also a strategic national investment in truth, literacy and civic enlightenment, and that is why the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation is committed to working with NOUN, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure Nigeria’s successful ratification and recognition of IMILI at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, next month.”

He added that the IMLI objective is to promote responsible media practices and strengthen Nigeria’s global standing in information literacy as a leading voice in information integrity.

The establishment of IMILI, he said “not only positions Nigeria as a leading voice in media and information literacy across Africa, but the grand initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which promotes integrity, accountability, and public enlightenment.”

Idris also called on Nigerians to unite against efforts by foreign interests to undermine the nation’s unity, saying a united front is required to protect the country’s image against false narratives and contrived misinformation.

He said: “Nigerians should join hands collectively, to stop fake narratives about our country. We all have a responsibility to project the truth and protect Nigeria’s image.

“Misinformation has the capacity to divide nations, and we must not allow that to happen to ours.”

Idris reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing media and information literacy as a tool for promoting truth, unity, and national development.

He emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in addressing the spread of fake news and misinformation, noting that false narratives have far-reaching consequences on national unity, peace, and Nigeria’s image.

In his remarks, Professor Peters expressed the university’s profound gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation for entrusting the university with the responsibility of hosting IMILI and acknowledged the minister’s support and the Federal Government’s provision of a ₦250 million grant to facilitate the institute’s development.

He described the institute as capable of strengthening Nigeria’s leadership in global media education and pledged the full commitment of the NOUN to the success and international recognition of IMILI.

“NOUN is fully prepared for the global accreditation of IMILI as a UNESCO Category Two Institute, and this recognition will further enhance Nigeria’s reputation in education and media literacy,” Peters said.

He also guaranteed NOUN’s institutional capacity, digital infrastructure, and academic expertise to sustain the institute, with structures already in place to ensure its autonomy and international relevance.