MAAUN, CITAD warn students against sharing unverified information
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) and the Department of Mass Communication, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), have urged students and digital media users to verify information before sharing it, amid the growing spread of misinformation and other forms of information disorder.
The organisations made the call on Monday at MAAUN during the commemoration of the 2026 International Day for Universal Access to Information.
The event, organised by CITAD in partnership with the MAAUN Department of Mass Communication, was themed: “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.”
The President of MAAUN, represented by the Vice President, Administration, Dr Habib Awais, said the theme was relevant to current national and global challenges, particularly during election campaigns and amid the growing spread of disinformation.
Awais urged students to deepen their understanding of information integrity and responsible engagement with information.
He said the programme provided an opportunity for students to learn, reflect and develop the knowledge required to navigate the increasingly complex information environment.
The Head of the Department of Mass Communication, MAAUN, Mr Rabi’u Ya’u Sulaiman, described the theme as timely, noting that technology had transformed the way people produced and consumed news.
Sulaiman said smartphones and other digital devices had enabled virtually everyone to record, edit and distribute information without necessarily understanding the responsibilities, laws and ethical standards associated with journalism.
“Everybody is taking advantage of that without necessarily understanding the role, laws, rules, regulations and ethics of journalism,” he said.
He urged students and other digital media users to understand their responsibilities when creating and sharing information online.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Mass
Communication, Skyline University Kano, Dr Usman Bashir, called for sustained media and information literacy campaigns to address the spread of misinformation.
Bashir said misinformation and other forms of information disorder could cause people to make uninformed decisions with serious consequences.
He urged students to verify information before accepting or sharing it, particularly on social media platforms.
In her presentation, Maryam Muhammad of the MAAUN Department of Mass Communication examined information disorder targeting women and girls.
She said misinformation and harmful digital content could negatively affect women’s careers, psychological well-being and businesses.
Muhammad called for greater awareness and responsible information-sharing practices to protect women and girls from harmful digital content.
The Senior Programmes Officer, CITAD, Mr Sani Khamees, said the programme provided an opportunity for students and staff to discuss information integrity and access to information.
Khamees said access to information was a fundamental human right guaranteed under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and recognised by UNESCO and the United Nations General Assembly.
He described access to information as essential to institutional accountability, saying it enabled citizens to move from being passive observers of governance to active participants in national development.
Khamees urged students to become responsible users and producers of information by verifying claims, consulting credible sources and avoiding the spread of unverified content.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information is commemorated annually on September 28 to promote awareness of the importance of access to information in building informed, inclusive and accountable societies.