By: Mandy Park
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has launched a Media Literacy Clubs initiative in secondary schools across Osun State to promote responsible media consumption among young people.
The program, titled “Making Safer Choices and Safeguarding Young Minds”, aims to educate students on media literacy and critical thinking.
Organizers say the key objectives are to equip students with the skills to critically evaluate media content and to also encourage students to consume age-appropriate media content.
It is to also foster critical thinking skills among students to make informed media choices.
The pilot phase, endorsed by the Osun State Ministry of Education, has commenced in four selected secondary schools. The clubs will function like other extra-curricular groups, focusing on guiding students in responsible media habits and consumption .
Paul Aliwon, Deputy Director of the NFVCB at the Osun Centre office, stated at the formal flagging off ceremony of the pilot scheme in Osogbo, Osun State capital, that the clubs would function like other school-based extra-curricular groups but would focus specifically on guiding students in responsible media habits and consumption.
With the endorsement of the Osun State Ministry of Education, the pilot phase has commenced in four selected secondary schools.
Said Ailewon: “We have secured approval to flag off the programme in both public and private schools and we are beginning with ten students per school and one coordinating teacher”.
Aliwon listed the objectives of the Media Literacy Clubs as follows, “educating students on film classifications and consumer advisories by the NFVCB, serving as youth ambassadors for the Board in promoting safe content consumption, both online and offline, as well as introducing students to the film value chain and classification elements”.
In a message to the flag off ceremony, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive-Director and Chief Executive of the NFVCB, stated that apart from providing mentorship opportunities with top actors in the industry, the programme would facilitate interaction and competitions among club members from different schools.
Husseini said: “Preparing students for advocacy in media safety and youth development and engaging them through a dedicated WhatsApp support line is also at the core of the NFVCB Media Literacy club”.
The CEO added that so far, the Media Literacy Club had been launched in three schools: Ataoja School of Science, Treasure Trove School, and Day Star School, with 30 student ambassadors and three coordinating teachers already active.
Commending the Osun State Ministry of Education for its support towards the implementation of the schools club across the State, Dr. Husseini remaked that the initiative represented a proactive effort by the NFVCB to empower the next generation with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate today’s complex media landscape.