FG advocates collaborative approach to combat misinformation on social media
The federation government has called for a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to tackling the credibility of social media content and combat misinformation.
This initiative was highlighted during a symposium themed “Blogging, AI, and the Credibility of Social Media Content: A Hybrid Resolution Approach,” held at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by Ibrahim Sheme, Director of Media and Publicity at NOUN, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, addressed the symposium on Thursday through the Director and Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Comfort Ajiboye.
The event was jointly organized by the International Media and Information Literacy Institute, NOUN’s Mass Communication Department, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and UNESCO.
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Idris emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing misinformation and supporting innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing media literacy.
He urged the development of policies that balance the right to free expression with the necessity for factual and reliable information.
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters, underscored the growing influence of social media in public discourse and the crucial role educational institutions play in promoting media literacy.
He emphasized the need for collaboration among academia, government, and international organisations to address the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age.
The event attracted media professionals, students, and government officials, fostering discussions on the role of blogging and AI in content creation and dissemination. The panel, moderated by Dr. Jacob Shagboar Suemo, featured experts including Mr. Qasim Olalere Akinretin from Voice of Nigeria, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi from Baze University, and popular blogger Malam Abdullahi O. Haruna.
Key discussions centred around the responsibilities of bloggers and content creators in promoting ethical media practices, the implications of AI tools in news dissemination, and strategies for ensuring transparency and accountability on online platforms.
The symposium concluded with a call to action for stakeholders to engage in efforts to regulate and improve the quality of social media content, particularly through the effective use of AI.
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