By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

In a bold move to bolster ethical journalism and counter the spread of misinformation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with the Media Awareness and Information For All Network (MAIN), has commenced a two-day high-level capacity-building workshop for media executives and content creators in North-West Nigeria.

Held in Kano, the training is focused on integrating Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into editorial policies of mainstream and digital media organisations.

The workshop targets editors, station managers, newsroom heads, and leading social media content creators drawn from seven states in the region.

Declaring the event open, Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba Waiya, emphasised the urgent need to professionalise the fast-evolving media landscape.

“Today, anyone with a smartphone and internet access claims to be a journalist. This is dangerous if not matched with proper media education and editorial accountability,” he warned.

The initiative comes at a time when the country faces an influx of disinformation and declining public trust in media, both traditional and online.

Addressing participants on behalf of UNESCO, Ms. Yachat Nuhu of the Communication and Information Sector, said the training is a critical part of efforts to reposition media as a trusted public good.

Prof. Jide Jimoh, Chairman of MAIN, said the collaboration reflects a growing consensus on the need for editorial accountability.

“This workshop empowers senior media professionals to embed MIL into newsroom culture, not just as policy, but as daily practice,” he said.

Representatives of regulatory bodies also lent strong support. Speaking on behalf of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alhaji Adamu Salisu reaffirmed the Commission’s backing for media literacy as a national priority.

“When media houses and digital content creators align their operations with MIL principles, they elevate professional standards and reinforce public confidence,” he noted.

Thirty senior management staff from 25 radio, television, print, and online media organisations participated in the workshop, which concludes with a policy draft session and roadmap for integrating MIL into internal editorial frameworks.

UNESCO and MAIN say the North-West engagement is the first in a series of zonal interventions designed to professionalise journalism and strengthen Nigeria’s information ecosystem.