IPIE Seeks Varsities’ Cooperation in Tackling Misinformation, Disinformation
* As don advocates Nigeria’s shift to data currency
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) has solicited cooperation from Nigerian universities in the global efforts at reducing or eradicating the menace of misinformation and disinformation in the information environment.
IPIE, in a parley with over 25 communication and information academics from eight universities in the North-central of Nigeria, warned that today’s information environment “is getting less and less healthy”, hence the need for urgent and concerted efforts by all.
The eight universities from which participants were drawn included Baze University, Bingham University, Nile University, University of Abuja, Veritas University, Nasarawa State University, National Open University of Nigeria, and Ahmadu Bello University.
Speaking at the meeting, which held at the Baze University, Co-founder of IPIE, Sheldon Himelfarb, noted that while information play a critical role in the socio-economic development of countries of the world, misinformation and disinformation on the other hand does more harm to society.
He said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that the information environment which we all live in is getting less and less healthy. Wether it is climate disinformation or health misinformation around vaccines or whether it is misinformation and disinformation that we see during global conflict; it is clear that we need to bring best science to bear to assist our researchers in developing new solutions to this unprecedented information environment where everyone, individuals are broadcasters…whether for good or for evil.”
Himelfarb lamented that millions of lives were “needlessly lost around the world” during the COVID-19 pandemic because the world was ill-prepared for the amount of misinformation regarding various solutions and vaccines against the pandemic.
While observing that the IPIE is very interested in health vommunication, the co-founder stated that the panel would like to work with professionals, academia, the government and other stakeholders.
“We are here in Nigeria to meet with researchers and scientists to become better informed about what they are grappling with in the information space and also to seek their assistance in helping to develop this new organization the International Panel on the Information Environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Mass Communication Department, Bingham University, Dr. Desmond Okocha, has said that besides the issues of misinformation and disinformation, the gathering aims to bring to the fore the shift in the global order that the currency of nations have moved from fossil fuels, from manufacturing, from service to data, adding that: “Data has become the new currency.”.
Okocha stressed that how a country deals, stores, transmits and utilizes data determines the future of that nation.
“So this meeting is to say the need for developing countries to sit down and re-quantify, re-analyze how data is produced, utilized and engaged as nations in order to preserve, to promote and advance the cause of various nations.
“So, scholars within the North-central region have gathered at Baze University to look at what can we do mobilizing the stakeholders to understand the peculiarity of Nigeria’s information environment as a way of helping policy makers, stakeholders, young people to maximize the information environment positively,” he added.
The Head of the Department advocated a national conversation, stressing that no single body or entity can manufacture solutions to the country’s challenges.
He said: “Together, we can engage ourselves to see what will work. We can borrow from the international body, domesticate solutions to suit our own peculiarities.”
