The Federal Government has called for global unity in fighting the menace of fake news around the world.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call on Tuesday when a delegation from UNESCO Feasibility Team paid him a visit in Abuja.
Arogidigba Global Journal gathered that the team is in Nigeria to assess the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN’s facilities for the establishment of UNESCO Category Two International Media and Information Literacy Institute.
Idris said the International Media and Information Literacy Institute was not just designed for the people of Nigeria but the world in general.
According to him, it was an opportunity for Nigerians to show not just their expertise and professionalism but commitment to media and information literacy globally.
“In this era of fake news, misinformation and disinformation, media and information
literacy is a key driver in achieving a media free and independent society.
“Fake news, misinformation and disinformation is a global challenge, and we note the efforts that UNESCO has been making to combating that, ” he said.
The minister added that fake news was a very dangerous thing, adding that misinformation and disinformation could ruin societies, destroy nations and relationships across the globe.
He pointed out that any time government attempted to address fake news, it was sometimes misconstrued and misrepresented as fighting press freedom or freedom of expression.
Idris further stressed that President Bola Tinubu takes the issue of press freedom and freedom of expression very seriously.
The minister, however, acknowledged that sometimes there were some over zealous people.
He further maintained that everything should be done in organised manner, adding that it must be fashioned in a way that it delivers the right values.