As part of efforts aimed at addressing the scourge of misinformation, disinformation, fake news and hate speech, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Media Awareness and Information for All Network (MAIN) have extended its training workshop for media chief executives and content creators on integrating Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into editorial policy to southern Nigeria.
The workshop, which held on June 4 and June 5, 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, attracted Commissioner for Information in the state, Aniekan Umanah; the Director of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Uyo zone, Henry Asagba and the Executive Secretary of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Yemisi Bamgbose, were in attendance.
Umanah highlighted the threat of conflict and disturbance of public peace when misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are disseminated through media.
He emphasised the need for editors and other gatekeepers to always confirm sources of their information before the dissemination of such stories to the Public. He further reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to supporting media and their commitment to ethical journalism.
The Head of UNESCO Abuja Office, Albert Mendy, represented by Yachat Nuhu, observed that the world is witnessing an accelerated transformation in media and communication landscape driven not only by digital technologies, but increased Artificial Intelligence (AI). She stated that AI offers unprecedented opportunities for innovation in news production, content distribution as well as audience engagement.
To her, “UNESCO has consistently advocated for a human-centered and ethical approach to AI, aligned with human rights, transparency, and accountability. Here in Nigeria, UNESCO Abuja office has been at the forefront of advancing MIL.”
Yachat noted that media professionals are not only conveyors of information, but they are also guardians of truth, champions of democratic values, and pillars of civic education.
She added that is why “this training workshop is not just another event, it is a strategic intervention aimed at equipping media professionals with the critical thinking skills, ethical grounding, and practical tools they need to navigate complex information environments responsibly and effectively.”
In his speech, Chairman MAIN, Prof. Jide Jimoh, represented by Prof. Charles Obot of the University of Uyo, highlighted the menace of misinformation, disinformation, mal-information, fake news, hate speech and related harmful communication.
With such a phenomenon hovering over us and popping up with constant alacrity, the don said, “the need for action becomes obvious. It is in this light that MAIN partnered with UNESCO to organise this training, among other initiatives, to stem the tide by awakening our consciousness and providing us with the required skills to tackle them without causing harm to society in the process.
On his part, Asagba stressed the need for all media houses to adopt competencies of MIL in news production and dissemination to get more public confidence.
He noted, “I call on media organisations to adhere to the competencies of MIL, and the principles of truth and fairness in their media content production and dissemination.”
In a similar vein, Bamgbose said that the workshop was apt as it would help end the era of biased, misinformation and disinformation in the media landscape. He urged media chief executives to prioritise public interest and media ethics above any other consideration.
