The Sokoto State Government has expressed happiness to partner with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to combat misinformation and disinformation to promote peace in the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Sambo Bello-Danchadi, said this when he received UNESCO’s Coordinator for Communication and Information Sector, Yachat Nuhu, who paid him a courtesy visit.

Mr Bello-Danchadi said that the world was currently facing fragile peace.

According to him, misinformation and disinformation have become major factors capable of creating tension, division and conflict among individuals and communities.

He observed that communities that had lived together peacefully for generations could suddenly become divided when false information was deliberately created and circulated to provoke ethnic, religious or communal sentiments.

The commissioner said that the situation was complicated by rapid technological developments, particularly the emergence of artificial intelligence, which made it difficult for members of the public to distinguish between genuine and fabricated information.

Mr Bello-Danchadi stressed the need for citizens to develop the ability to critically assess information before accepting or sharing it, noting, “Not everything that appears plausible or convincing is necessarily true.”

He said that the emergence of social media had significantly changed the information environment.

He noted that that while people traditionally regarded information from radio and television as credible, the proliferation of social media platforms had made the verification of information more important than ever.

Mr Bello-Danchadi commended UNESCO for identifying traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders and the information sector as key gatekeepers whose influence could be harnessed to promote responsible information sharing and peaceful coexistence.

“These leaders enjoy the trust and confidence of their communities and could play a significant role in educating citizens on the dangers of misinformation and disinformation,” he said.

The commissioner recalled the significant contributions of UNESCO to education, science, culture and development, particularly in developing countries, describing the organisation as an important arm of the United Nations.

He noted that UNESCO’s efforts towards promoting peace, education and responsible communication remained relevant, especially at a time when societies were confronted with increasing challenges associated with information disorder.

Earlier, Ms Nuhu said the delegation was in Sokoto State to engage key stakeholders on UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy initiative.

The coordinator explained that UNESCO considers traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials and other trusted community leaders as important gatekeepers in every society.

She said UNESCO believes that working with the stakeholders would help promote responsible information management and contribute to peace and stability.

According to her, media and information literacy provides individuals with the skills and competencies required to access, assess, critically analyse, produce and responsibly share information.

She said the initiative was particularly important during election periods, when misinformation and disinformation could have serious consequences for peace and social cohesion if not properly addressed.

Ms Nuhu added that the Nigerian government, in collaboration with UNESCO, recently launched the International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja, describing it as an important platform for capacity building and research in the area of media and information literacy.

She said UNESCO’s interventions were designed to promote peace across education, culture, science and communication, stressing that peace-building must begin with individuals and communities.

The UNESCO coordinator explained that the organisation was in Sokoto State to hold dialogue with traditional and religious leaders, government representatives and other stakeholders on ways to strengthen their capacity to identify, assess and responsibly disseminate information.

Ms Nuhu expressed optimism that the engagement would strengthen collaboration between UNESCO and relevant stakeholders in Sokoto State and contribute to enhancing social cohesion, building a more informed, peaceful and resilient society. 

(NAN)