By Zainab Bakare
Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has called for stronger global collaboration among governments, media organisations, security agencies, civil society groups, and diplomatic missions to combat misinformation and promote credible information management.
He made the call at the 2nd Diplomatic/Security, Trade and Investment International Conference organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in Abuja.
The conference focused on “Information Warfare: Strengthening Global Security, Trade and Investment Through Collaborative Truth.”
Jonathan, represented by Ann Iyonu of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, warned that democracies worldwide are increasingly threatened by disinformation, propaganda, and manipulated digital content.
He stressed the need for stronger partnerships to improve media literacy, protect democratic systems, and prevent conflict driven by false narratives.
FG Moves to Strengthen Information Integrity
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced new initiatives to promote fact-checking and information transparency.
Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed launched:
- Nigerian Fact Check and Information Integrity Network
- Truth Matters campaign
- Build Stronger, Safer Society platform
- Think Before You Share initiative
He said diplomatic journalism plays a key role in accountability, transparency, and international cooperation.
Media Urged to Avoid Misinformation
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria warned journalists against careless reporting and misleading content.
He emphasized the importance of understanding context in reporting and urged journalists to avoid sensationalism, especially when handling diplomatic and security-related information.
He also reaffirmed VON’s commitment to promoting Nigeria’s global image through responsible journalism.
Experts Warn on Capacity Gap
Experts at the conference warned that Nigeria risks losing major development gains without stronger investment in human capital.
The Registrar-General of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria said poor project management continues to undermine national development in key sectors such as health, security, and technology.
He stressed that youth empowerment and skills development are critical to long-term national stability.
EU Raises Concern Over Disinformation
The European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS warned that foreign information manipulation is increasingly being used to:
- Influence elections
- Deepen ethnic and religious divisions
- Undermine public trust in institutions
However, the EU stressed that efforts to fight misinformation must not lead to censorship, urging support for independent journalism.
Peacebuilding Group Pledges Support
An international peacebuilding organisation, Constellation Resources, pledged support for efforts to combat misinformation in West Africa.
The group warned that fake news and online manipulation are worsening insecurity, especially in the Sahel and ECOWAS region.
It also raised concerns about digital platforms being used for gender-based violence and online exploitation.
DICAN Launches Anti-Disinformation Campaign
The Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) launched a campaign against Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
Organisers warned that:
- AI-driven disinformation is rising globally
- Deepfakes are being used to create fake diplomatic crises
- Over 70% of manipulation campaigns now use AI tools
They estimated that misinformation costs the global economy about $100 billion annually.
A new Nigerian Fact Check and Information Integrity Network involving 69 civil society groups was also unveiled, alongside six regional monitoring “Situation Rooms” to track fake news in real time.
Stakeholders agreed that misinformation has become a major global security and economic threat, calling for stronger cooperation between governments, media, and technology platforms to protect democratic systems and public trust.
