Global Media and Information Literacy Week – Africa Edition
_24‑31 October 2025_
Theme 2025: “Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces
Across Africa the week is turning classrooms, libraries and community centres into labs for critical thinking about artificial intelligence. With internet penetration soaring—especially on mobile—and AI tools (chatbots, deep‑fake generators, recommendation algorithms) now accessible to students in Lagos, Nairobi and Accra, UNESCO’s MIL Week urges everyone to pause, question and master the tech before it masters us.
Why “Minds Over AI” matters here
1. Rapid AI adoption – Edtech platforms in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa are embedding AI for personalized lessons. MIL teaches learners to spot bias in adaptive quizzes and to verify sources suggested by algorithms.
2. Misinformation surge – Deep‑fakes circulate on WhatsApp groups during elections. The week offers workshops (online & in‑person) on detecting manipulated video, run by local NGOs and university media departments.
3. Digital inclusion – In rural Ghana or Somalia, where connectivity is patchy, MIL sessions focus on low‑bandwidth tools so even offline users can evaluate information responsibly.
4. Youth empowerment – Universities such as Makerere (Uganda) and East West University (Bangladesh—serving African diaspora scholars) host panel debates on “Integration of MIL in Higher Education” and quizzes on AI ethics ³. African institutions are invited to replicate these formats.
How Africans can join
- Register an event on UNESCO’s MIL portal (mil.unesco.org) – schools, libraries or community radios can host a “Minds Over AI” talk.
- Use #MindsOverAI on Twitter/X and tag @UNESCO_Lagos to spotlight local initiatives.
- Attend the virtual sessions streamed from Cartagena, Colombia (23‑24 Oct) – they’re open to all time zones.
Spotlight: Nigeria
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) is coordinating a Lagos‑based webinar on 29 Oct, “AI Literacy for Journalists”, inviting reporters to test AI‑generated headlines for accuracy. Slots are free; email [email protected] to secure a place .
Key take‑away
MIL Week 2025 equips African learners, educators and media practitioners with the skills to navigate AI responsibly—ensuring technology amplifies, not erodes, informed citizenship across the continent.
Want ideas for a campus event in your city or tips to amplify the hashtag in Africa? Let me know—I’m happy to help craft something that resonates locally.
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