Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, a distinguished scholar of Strategic Communication, Disinformation & Media and Digital Literacy, in his capacity as the co-lead of the UNESCO Global Network of Universities (UNITWIN), has inaugurated the African Chapter of the UNESCO MILID Universities Network.
The event which was hosted on 9 December 2024, Online, attracted many participants from African universities in the different regions of Africa, the UNESCO African Regional Offices, including the headquarter office in Paris, UNESCO National Commission Office and other UN agencies.
According to Dr. Suraj, the African Chapter of the UNESCO University Network will help to harness all the African developmental initiatives by localizing the global solutions using media and information literacy strategy.
His words: “Having taken into consideration the operational strategy for Priority Africa 2022-2029, the evaluation of the previous Strategy 2014-2021 conducted by the Internal Oversight Service, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want,” Kampala 2020 “MOULD” Action plan, the various activities of UNESCO Africa Group, programme sectors at headquarters, field offices in Africa and the Bureau of Strategic Planning, the African Chapter of the UNESCO MILID University Network will work towards actualising the Agenda 2063 renewed vision for “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”
The Chapter, which is to be headed by Associate Prof. Olunifesi Suraj in the Department of Mass Communication (He doubles as the co-lead of the global UNESCO University Network on Media and Information Literacy), will have her headquarters in University of Lagos, Nigeria, while having its regional offices in other four regions of Africa.
In her opening remark, the Management of the University of Lagos represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, pledged the university’s support for the Chapter, and to support all the initiatives of the African Chapter of the network.
The remarks from the Vice Chancellor were collaborated with the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, who congratulated Dr. Suraj for his good initiative in establishing the African Chapter and promised to give all necessary support to make the Chapter a success.
Prof. Jose Manuel from the University of Autonoma Barcelona in Spain, a global co-lead with Dr. Suraj, equally praised the University of Lagos Management for her foresight, and promised to give international support to the project.
Other speakers such as Prof. Stella Okunna, Prof. Drissia Choult from Morrocco and other professors from other countries including Rwanda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, who took turns to address the audience, spoke highly of the project, emphasising the slogan of the initiative “The Africa we need.”
Dr. Alton Grizzle, the MIL Program Specialist of the Media and Information Literacy Unit, UNESCO HQ, Paris, remarked that UNESCO has formally recognised the African Chapter and look forward to working with the University of Lagos along with the Nigeria Federal Government initiative of International Media and Information Literacy Institute.
The Secretary General of UNESCO National Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, Dr. Olawale Olagunju, speaking in the same manner, expressed the Commission’s welfare remarks stating that the initiatives could not have come at a better time when Africa looks forward to reliable intellectual partners to help address her numerous challenges.
The UNESCO Office in Abuja, who had initially written a letter of support to back the African Chapter, spoke glowingly of the initiative, while reiterating their commitment for the project. This also applied to the UNESCO Regional office in Kenya.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Suraj explained the processes involved in becoming a member of the UNESCO University MILID Network. He encouraged interested University to express interest by contacting UNESCO, HQ in Paris through Dr. Alton Grizzle and a member University of the Network in their regions.
Once interest is expressed, the University will need to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the contacted University. After signing the MoU, an interested university will become an Associate Member. To become a Full Member, the University must demonstrate active participation in Media and Information Literacy (MILID)-related activities for at least a year. Full membership is granted at the annual MILID University Network meeting, which is held during Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
After performing the rituals of the inauguration, the African Chapter of UNESCO MILID University Network was officially unveiled by the pioneer of the project, Dr. Olunifesi Suraj with toasts of “The Africa We Want.”
