RoundCheck turns to creative arts to boost media literacy among young Nigerians

By Oguadimma Chisom Jacinta

RoundCheck, a fact-checking organization, on Friday hosted a youth-focused poetry festival aimed at strengthening Media and Information Literacy (MIL) among young Nigerians. The event, held at the Academic Publishing Centre, University of Lagos (UNILAG), brought together journalists, educators, fact-checkers, poets, and young creatives for a day of learning and critical discussions on misinformation.

The festival, tagged “Truth in Verse,” showcased how spoken-word poetry can serve as a powerful tool to engage young people on issues of truth, verification, and responsible information sharing.

Speaking at the event, RoundCheck Executive Director, Caleb Ijioma, said the festival was part of the organization’s five-year effort to equip young people with the skills to critically evaluate information.

“Spoken-word poetry remains one of the most influential creative forms among young Nigerians. It inspires them to question, verify, and engage with the information they consume online and offline,” he said.

A goodwill message delivered by Motunrayo Joel, on behalf of David Adjikobi, Editor at Africa Check, highlighted the dangers of disinformation deliberately designed to mislead, contrasting it with unintentional misinformation. She urged young people to verify sources, cross-check facts, and be mindful of personal biases when sharing information online.

Godson Osarenren, founder of Naija Poetry Fest, also spoke about the essence of being a poet. Osarenren explained that poetry is more than artistic expression; it is a tool for reflection, education, and social impact.

Alao Abiodun, Senior Reporter at The Nation Newspaper, stressed the importance of verification in journalism. “Accuracy and credibility are the backbone of good reporting. Sharing unverified information can mislead the public and erode trust in the media,” he said.

Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, a Scholar of Strategic Communication and Disinformation and Co-Lead of the UNESCO Global Network of Universities (UNITWIN) on Media and Information Literacy, emphasized the importance of MIL. He warned that the problem extends beyond students to governments, universities, and classrooms themselves.

“Media literacy is no longer optional; it is important for combating disinformation,” he said, urging institutions to provide training, educate learners on responsible media use, and democratize the classrooms to meet the needs of the digital age.

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Victor Ejechi, Head of Insight, explained the role of fact-checking in today’s media landscape. He highlighted that verifying information before sharing is necessary for combating misinformation, building public trust, and ensuring that audiences receive accurate and reliable news.

Ejechi also stressed that journalists, media organizations, and the public all have a responsibility to engage in careful evaluation of content to prevent the spread of false narratives.

Allwell Okpi of Africa Check noted that fact-checkers have a critical role in ensuring that any inaccuracies or misleading information in existing materials are corrected promptly.

By updating previously published content after fact-checking, media organizations and fact-checkers can provide audiences with accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information, reinforcing public trust and reducing the spread of misinformation.

Ijioma also cautioned against the risks posed by misinformation and disinformation, particularly among Africa’s youth. “Young people must understand how media messages are created, verify information, and protect themselves and their communities,” he said.

The event was supported by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Africa Check, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), FactsMatterNG, CableCheck, YALI Network Lagos, Media Career Development Network, and the Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) Foundation.