The Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies (OOCAS) recently hosted a groundbreaking 1st International Symposium on "Harnessing African Solutions to Combat Fake News, Misinformation, and Disinformation," and the insights shared were eye-opening.

The symposium, which took place on July 13, 2023, brought together eminent academicians and distinguished speakers like Mr. Adebayo Onanuga, Prof. Juliet Wambui Macharia, and Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako, among others. The urgency of the matter couldn't be overstated, as these experts stressed the need for immediate action by authorities from all walks of life to safeguard our societies from the damaging effects of fake news.

In his passionate opening address, Prof. Olufemi Peters, the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), aptly described fake news, misinformation, and disinformation as the "children of the same mother, malinformation," all born to deceive and confuse the world. He didn't shy away from pointing fingers at social media platforms as major enablers of this relentless plague, acknowledging that previous attempts to curb it had yielded mixed results.

The brainchild behind this remarkable symposium, Prof. Eserinune McCarthy Mojaye, Director of OOCAS, recounted the center's noble mission to address Africa's challenges head-on. With a determined stance, he pledged unwavering dedication to find solutions to the menacing monsters of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation, which threaten the very fabric of our societies and humanity itself.

The guest speakers, each a luminary in their respective fields, echoed the sentiment that fake news knows no boundaries and respects no one. They unanimously identified social media and the internet as the breeding grounds for this insidious problem, emphasizing that it's a bitter pill to swallow and demands immediate attention.

As a passionate blogger and an advocate for truth, I couldn't agree more with the symposium's call to action. The spread of fake news is a menace that affects us all, and we must all play our part in curbing its influence. Let's be vigilant consumers of information, fact-checking before sharing and promoting responsible journalism.

Kudos to OOCAS for spearheading this essential gathering of minds, and let's hope this symposium marks the beginning of a wave of positive change in our fight against fake news. Together, we can harness African solutions and pave the way for a more informed, responsible, and united future. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this journey together!