NOUN Hosts Symposium Advocating Multi-Stakeholder Approach on Social Media Content Credibility

The Federal Government has called for a multi-stakeholder approach to address the credibility of social media content and tackle the growing problem of misinformation. This was emphasized by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, during a symposium held on Thursday at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters in Abuja.

The event, themed "Blogging, AI, and the Credibility of Social Media Content: A Hybrid Resolution Approach," was jointly organized by NOUN’s Mass Communication Department, the International Media and Information Literacy Institute, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and UNESCO. It aimed to address concerns surrounding misinformation on social media and explore how emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) can influence online narratives.

In his remarks, delivered by Mrs. Comfort Ajiboye, Director and Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Idris reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating misinformation while supporting innovations that promote media literacy. He emphasized the need for policies that balance freedom of expression with the importance of factual and reliable information.

NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, highlighted the critical role of social media in shaping public discourse and stressed the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, government, and international organizations in addressing misinformation.

The symposium featured a lively panel discussion moderated by Dr. Jacob Shagboar Suemo, Head of Mass Communication at Nile University, with panelists including Mr. Qasim Olalere Akinretin from Voice of Nigeria, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Baze University, and blogger Malam Abdullahi O. Haruna. The discussions centered on responsible media practices, the impact of AI on content creation, and strategies to counter misinformation.

The event concluded with a call for stronger stakeholder engagement in improving social media content credibility through AI and other regulatory measures.