By Gabriel Ameh
The Media and Information Literacy among Young Professionals (MILAP) says it is stepping up efforts to equip young Nigerians and community members with the skills to identify, verify and counter misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence (AI)-generated fake news ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation’s founder, Oluwadami Victoria Olujobi, disclosed this in an interview, emphasising that critical thinking and media literacy are essential to preventing the spread of false and misleading information in Nigeria’s increasingly digital information environment.
Olujobi said MILAP was established to address the gap between access to information and people’s ability to assess its credibility before accepting or sharing it.
She noted that the growing circulation of misleading content, combined with advances in artificial intelligence, had made it increasingly important for citizens to question online claims and verify information before acting on it.
“The problem and the biggest gap in information is not the fact that the information is not available, but the fact that most people don’t know how to critically think when they get information, analyse it and ensure that it is evaluated before they share it,” she said.
MILAP Takes Media Literacy Education to Schools and Communities
Olujobi said the organisation’s work extends beyond young professionals to students, community members and other groups, with programmes designed to promote responsible information consumption and sharing.
She explained that MILAP organises school-based advocacy campaigns, community outreaches and digital skills training, while establishing Media and Information Literacy Clubs to help young people develop the ability to recognise and challenge misleading information.
According to her, early education is particularly important because children and young people increasingly rely on social media and other digital platforms for information.
“We believe that charity begins at home. One of the things we do is go down to young people, including those in primary and secondary schools, through advocacy outreaches,” she said.
Through its school clubs, MILAP teaches students how to evaluate information critically, use AI responsibly and acquire practical digital competencies, including graphics design and content creation.
Olujobi said the initiative is intended to help students apply what they learn and share the knowledge with others in their schools and communities.
“We are not just shouting, saying no to fake news. We are making sure that we are educating them, advocating and also imbibing technical skills in them that will help them do this,” she added.
She said the organisation also conducts community-based programmes to extend media literacy education beyond formal classrooms, stressing that combating misinformation requires sustained education, practical training and advocacy rather than awareness campaigns alone.
Organisation Reports Reaching More Than 2,000 People
On how MILAP measures the impact of its activities, Olujobi said the organisation considers participants’ feedback, their ability to apply the knowledge acquired and their efforts to replicate the lessons within their communities.
She explained that MILAP operates as a movement, with its club structure enabling trained participants to become advocates for responsible information sharing.
According to her, participants are encouraged to organise media literacy activities in their communities, with the organisation providing support where necessary.
The approach, she said, is designed to expand the reach of media literacy education by empowering beneficiaries to pass their knowledge on to others.
Olujobi disclosed that MILAP had reached more than 2,000 people through its activities and maintained records to monitor its reach and assess progress.
She added that practical demonstrations and participants’ ability to independently apply what they had learned were important indicators of the programme’s impact.
2027 Elections: MILAP Promotes AI and Political Fact-Checking
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Olujobi said the organisation was intensifying efforts to help young Nigerians identify AI-generated misinformation and verify political claims circulating online.
She explained that participants were taught to use fact-checking tools and other verification methods to establish whether information was accurate before sharing it.
According to her, the training prioritises hands-on verification rather than assumptions, unconfirmed claims or information accepted simply because it has been shared widely.
Olujobi stressed that technology alone could not solve the problem of misinformation, arguing that individuals must exercise independent judgment when assessing content produced or circulated using artificial intelligence.
“The first fact-checking tool that you need is your brain,” she said, urging citizens to question claims, examine their credibility and avoid accepting digital content without proper evaluation.
She warned that relying uncritically on AI tools could contribute to the spread of false information, particularly when users fail to independently verify the responses generated by such systems.
The MILAP founder also disclosed that the organisation had operated a fact-checking team during previous election-related activities, verifying information and sharing findings through its networks.
She said MILAP intended to sustain and strengthen this approach ahead of the 2027 elections by encouraging young people to take greater responsibility for the accuracy of information they distribute.
Responsible AI Use Essential to Combating Fake News
Olujobi maintained that a media-literate population was essential to reducing the harmful effects of misinformation and encouraging responsible engagement with digital platforms.
She said the organisation expected participants at its conference to gain a stronger understanding of information literacy and the ethical use of artificial intelligence, irrespective of their age, profession or educational background.
According to her, the gathering brought together participants from different backgrounds, including librarians, students and professionals, creating opportunities to promote a shared commitment to responsible information use.
She emphasised that citizens should be able to use AI productively in their work while understanding its limitations, ethical implications and potential to spread misleading content.
Olujobi called for sustained investment in media and information literacy education, noting that the ability to critically assess information had become increasingly important as digital content could be produced and circulated rapidly.
She said MILAP would continue expanding its school and community initiatives to equip young Nigerians with the critical thinking and technical skills needed to navigate the changing digital information landscape and help curb fake news.
Source: Media360Impact interview with MILAP founder, Oluwadami Victoria Olujobi.
