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The Sokoto State Government has signaled a warm and enthusiastic embrace of a new partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a collaboration aimed squarely at countering the twin threats of misinformation and disinformation in the pursuit of lasting peace within the state. This sentiment was expressed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Sambo Bello-Danchadi, during a cordial courtesy visit from Yachat Nuhu, UNESCO’s Coordinator for the Communication and Information Sector. For the commissioner, this was more than a routine diplomatic meeting; it was an acknowledgment of an urgent and growing challenge that now touches every corner of the globe. In his remarks, he painted a vivid picture of a world standing on fragile ground, where the very fabric of social trust is being tested. Misinformation and disinformation, he argued, are no longer simply annoying byproducts of the internet age but have become powerful and dangerous forces, capable of generating tension, deepening divisions, and igniting conflict among individuals and entire communities. The commissioner’s concern was deeply human, rooted in the fear that communities which have lived side-by-side in harmony for generations could be torn apart by deliberately crafted falsehoods designed to inflame ethnic, religious, or communal grievances. It is a scenario that plays out across the world, and Sokoto State, with its rich and diverse heritage, is no exception to this new global vulnerability.
Delving deeper into this concern, Commissioner Bello-Danchadi reflected on how quickly long-standing social bonds can fray when false narratives are injected into the public sphere. He observed that the deliberate creation and circulation of provocative information could undermine the trust that has historically allowed different groups to coexist peacefully. What makes the current moment especially dangerous, he noted, is the rapid acceleration of technological innovation, most notably the emergence of artificial intelligence. These advancements have created a murky and treacherous information landscape in which the average person often struggles mightily to distinguish between what is genuine and what has been cleverly fabricated. The commissioner stressed, with a sense of urgency, that citizens must now develop the capacity to critically evaluate every piece of information they encounter before accepting it as true or passing it along to others. “Not everything that appears plausible or convincing is necessarily true,” he cautioned, offering a simple but vital piece of wisdom for the modern age. He further explained that the information environment has been completely transformed by the rise of social media, which has shattered the old order in which people naturally viewed content from radio and television as reliable. In the past, he reasoned, these traditional broadcasters were seen as pillars of credibility. Now, with a sea of unverified posts, messages, and viral videos flooding online platforms, the task of verifying facts has become more essential than ever before. The challenge is no longer a lack of information, but the overwhelming volume of it, and the responsibility for sorting truth from falsehood increasingly falls on the individual.
To meet this daunting challenge, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation welcomed UNESCO’s strategic approach, which focuses on identifying and empowering key gatekeepers within society. He expressed heartfelt commendation for the organization’s insight in recognizing that traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders, and the information sector itself hold the keys to promoting responsible information sharing and peaceful coexistence. These leaders, he explained, are not just figureheads; they enjoy a deep well of trust and confidence among their communities. Their voices carry enormous weight, and their influence can be harnessed to educate citizens in a way that government administrators or formal institutions often cannot. They speak the local languages, understand the cultural nuances, and have the personal relationships necessary to resonate with ordinary people on a deeply emotional level. The commissioner’s remarks underscored the belief that these respected figures have a pivotal role to play, not only as role models but as active educators who can teach the public about the inherent dangers of misinformation and disinformation. In a time of great confusion, they can serve as steady anchors of guidance. Bello-Danchadi also took a moment to reflect on the broader contributions that UNESCO has made over the years, particularly in developing countries, through its dedicated work in education, science, culture, and communication. He described UNESCO as an indispensable arm of the United Nations, praising its continued relevance in a world beset by information disorder. In his view, the organization’s commitment to fostering peace, promoting education, and encouraging responsible communication remains just as vital today as it has ever been.
For her part, Yachat Nuhu, the UNESCO coordinator, explained that her delegation had come to Sokoto State with a clear and focused mission: to engage with key stakeholders around the organization’s ambitious Media and Information Literacy (MIL) initiative. She reiterated UNESCO’s conviction that traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials, and other trusted community figures are the important gatekeepers in every society. They are the connective tissue between formal institutions and the grassroots, and UNESCO firmly believes that working hand-in-hand with these stakeholders will actively promote responsible information management, which in turn will make significant contributions to peace and stability. Nuhu described media and information literacy as the essential toolkit for the twenty-first century, equipping individuals with the skills required not only to access and assess information but also to critically analyze it, produce their own content, and, most importantly, responsibly share it with others. This set of competencies, she argued, is not a luxury but a necessity for democratic health and social resilience. She highlighted that the initiative takes on even greater urgency during election periods, when the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation can unleash serious consequences for peace and social cohesion if left unaddressed. Elections, she noted, are high-stakes moments when societies are particularly vulnerable to manipulation. A fabricated story or a deliberately twisted fact can inflame passions, delegitimize processes, and provoke violence. This is why the work of promoting media and information literacy must be constant and proactive, not just a reaction to crises.
Ms. Nuhu also informed her audience about a significant recent milestone in this ongoing effort: the joint launching of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja by the Nigerian government and UNESCO. She described this new institute as an important platform for capacity building, research, and the deep-dive study of the mechanisms behind media literacy. It is intended to be a center of excellence that will develop new methodologies and train a new generation of educators and practitioners who can carry the message of responsible information handling far and wide. The UNESCO coordinator emphasized that all of the organization’s interventions are fundamentally designed to build peace, touching upon the interconnected fields of education, culture, science, and communication. She offered a powerful philosophical point: peace-building must begin with individuals and communities. It is not simply a top-down process dictated by governments or international bodies. Rather, it is a grassroots endeavor that takes root in the everyday decisions of citizens. If each person can learn to critically question what they see online and refuse to share harmful falsehoods, they become a vital building block in a more peaceful society. According to Nuhu, these skills empower people to see through propaganda and resist the manipulative tactics that often precede communal conflicts. The impulse to preserve harmony, therefore, is inseparable from the capacity to think for oneself and evaluate facts objectively, and this is the core message UNESCO hopes to spread through its work.
In her closing remarks, the UNESCO coordinator expressed a clear sense of optimism about the path forward, stating that the purpose of the visit to Sokoto State was to hold a constructive dialogue with traditional and religious leaders, representatives of the state government, and other relevant stakeholders. The goal of these conversations was to explore ways to strengthen their collective capacity to identify, assess, and responsibly disseminate information within their respective spheres of influence. It is a matter of building a defense network, not of physical walls, but of trained and vigilant minds. By bringing these various groups together, UNESCO hopes to create a unified front against the manipulative forces that too often seek to exploit divisions. Nuhu noted that she was hopeful that this engagement would greatly strengthen the collaboration between UNESCO and the relevant stakeholders in Sokoto State. The meeting served as a reminder that while misinformation and disinformation present a daunting global problem, they are not insurmountable when communities come together to find common-ground solutions. By focusing on the power of education and the influence of trusted individuals, both the Sokoto State Government and UNESCO are investing in the long-term goal of enhancing social cohesion and building a society that is more informed, more peaceful, and more resilient in the face of a changing world. The atmosphere of the meeting was one of shared responsibility and mutual respect, reflecting a recognition that the fight for truth and peace is one that no single entity can win alone. This partnership, therefore, represents a hopeful and practical step toward a future where facts are valued, voices are heard, and unity is preserved.