Nigeria and Türkiye have renewed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations in strategic communication, media development, cultural diplomacy and the fight against misinformation and disinformation.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Türkiye’s Head of the Directorate of Communications, Professor Burhanettin Duran, in Istanbul, held on the sidelines of the TRT World Forum.
Speaking during the meeting, Idris thanked the Turkish Government for inviting Nigeria to participate in the international forum, while acknowledging Türkiye’s growing global influence and expanding diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa, particularly Nigeria.
The Minister said both countries shared common aspirations to promote international peace, security, cultural understanding, and sustainable economic development.
He also commended the Turkish Government for hosting President Bola Tinubu earlier in the year, describing the visit as a significant milestone that had created fresh opportunities for stronger bilateral cooperation.
Idris particularly praised the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) for expanding its operations across Africa, especially through its Hausa-language service, engagement with Nigerian media professionals and capacity-building initiatives.
He said Nigeria was interested in deepening its partnership with Türkiye in tackling the growing challenges of fake news, misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence.
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According to him, these developments pose serious threats to public trust, social cohesion and national and international security, making international cooperation and responsible use of emerging technologies increasingly important.
Stronger Partnerships
The Minister stressed the need for stronger partnerships, improved media literacy and responsible deployment of digital technologies to address the challenges confronting the global information environment.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s role as host of the world’s first Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute, describing the institution as a strategic platform for international collaboration, professional development and building resilience against misinformation and disinformation.
Idris expressed optimism that cooperation between both countries would translate into practical initiatives capable of strengthening media institutions and improving the quality of information available to citizens.
He also indicated his readiness to welcome Professor Duran to Nigeria in the near future to further consolidate the growing relationship and explore additional areas of collaboration.
Responding, Türkiye’s Head of the Directorate of Communications, Professor Burhanettin Duran, described Nigeria as an important strategic partner to Türkiye, citing its regional and international influence, cultural diversity and professional resources.
He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening cultural relations and professional exchanges with Nigeria, particularly through institutional partnerships in the communication and broadcasting sectors.
The Turkish communications Chief also expressed support for the proposed signing and implementation of Memoranda of Understanding between relevant Turkish institutions and Nigeria’s public media organisations.
The organisations identified for possible collaboration include the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to Duran, such agreements would provide an institutional framework for cooperation in broadcasting, content exchange, professional training and technical development.
He also invited Nigeria to participate in the Sixth International Strategic Communication Summit, scheduled to be held in Istanbul in January 2027.
The summit is expected to focus on strengthening international collaboration, improving coordination and developing effective strategic communication responses to emerging global challenges.
Both officials reaffirmed their determination to sustain bilateral engagement and strengthen institutional cooperation, with particular emphasis on leveraging communication, media development and cultural diplomacy to promote international peace, security and mutual development.
The renewed commitment underscores the growing importance of Nigeria–Türkiye relations and the shared recognition that effective communication, responsible media practice and international cooperation are essential to addressing emerging global challenges.
