FG Seeks UNESCO’s Support To Train Information Managers

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has
called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) to assist Nigeria in building the capacity of
public information managers, in view of the changing dynamics of the
information landscape due to the advent of the Social Media.

The Minister made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when he received a
delegation from UNESCO on a courtesy visit to his office.

“The information era of the 60s, 70s and 80s are not exactly the
information era of today. In the 70s and 80s even up to the 90s, we
depended largely on the print, radio and television to mould opinions
and views but today, with the Social Media, I think it’s a completely
new ball game and this is where UNESCO will also need to adapt,
especially in the area of support they give to us.

“Today, our young ones – I think it’s correct to say that about 80% of
them, don’t rely on the traditional media: newspapers or even radio or
television, as their source of information. Today, they rely more on
the Social Media. Even the traditional media today also have realized
that unless they are also present in the Social Media, their impact
will probably not be felt.

“So I want to appeal to UNESCO…to look at how you can assist us in
capacity building in the area of Social Media,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said such assistance becomes imperative because the
Social Media has now become a platform for the dissemination of fake
news and disinformation, which is a nightmare for public information
managers.

He, therefore, appealed to UNESCO to focus more on building capacity
on how to manage information emanating from the Social Media.

In the area of culture, the Minister said Nigeria has now become a
powerhouse in the creative industry through the proliferation of its
films, music and other forms of entertainment.

“There is no gainsaying that Nigeria rules Africa when it comes to
entertainment and again we want the assistance of UNESCO in developing
more, especially in the area of content. We have so much content and
so many stories to tell the world but we need to assist the creative
industry in training the filmmakers to improve on their capacity,
technically, so that they can tell their stories on a better
platform,” he said.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Assistant Director-General
of UNESCO for Africa, Mr. Edouard Matoko, said the organization is
ready to support the development and implementation of the Creative
and Culture Industry Action Plan for Nigeria in order to build the
capacity of the youth, especially in the film and entertainment
sector.

Segun Adeyemi
SA To Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
28Feb2018

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