By Mercy Peter
The Media and Information Literacy among Young Professionals (MILAP) says it is training young Nigerians and community members to identify, verify and counter misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated fake news ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The founder of MILAP, Oluwadami Victoria Olujobi, disclosed this in an interview, stressing the need to equip citizens with critical thinking, information literacy and media literacy skills to address the growing challenges of false and misleading information in the digital space.
Olujobi said the organisation was established to bridge the gap between information availability and people’s ability to critically evaluate information before accepting or sharing it.
According to her, the increasing circulation of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation has continued to affect public discourse, particularly among young people and professionals who rely heavily on digital platforms for information.
She noted that the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) had further complicated the information environment, making it necessary for citizens to develop the skills required to assess the credibility and authenticity of content encountered online.
“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.
Olujobi explained that MILAP’s mission extended beyond young professionals to include students, community members and other segments of society, adding that the organisation was committed to building a population capable of making informed decisions based on verified information.
She said the organisation’s activities included school-based advocacy, community outreaches, digital skills training and the establishment of media and information literacy clubs to help young people develop responsible information-sharing habits.
According to her, MILAP considers early education essential to building a society that can recognise and resist false information, particularly as young people increasingly engage with social media and other digital platforms.
“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.
Olujobi explained that the organisation establishes Media and Information Literacy Clubs in schools where students are taught critical information assessment, ethical AI use, digital skills, graphics design and other technology-related competencies.
She said the initiative was designed not only to teach students how to identify misleading content but also to equip them with practical skills that would enable them to apply and share the knowledge within their schools and communities.
The MILAP founder added that the organisation also conducts community-based programmes to extend media literacy education beyond formal learning environments.
She said the approach went beyond general campaigns against fake news, noting that effective intervention required sustained education, advocacy and practical training to help people understand how misinformation spreads and how it can be countered.
“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 said.
Olujobi added that the organisation’s training programmes covered content creation, the responsible use of AI and other digital competencies intended to promote informed participation in the digital environment.
On how MILAP measures the impact of its activities beyond conferences and awareness campaigns, she said the organisation assessed participants’ feedback and their ability to replicate the knowledge acquired in their respective communities.
She explained that MILAP operated as a movement rather than a closed organisation, with its club structure enabling participants to take the lessons learned during training sessions to other people.
According to her, participants are encouraged to implement media literacy initiatives within their communities, while the organisation provides support where necessary to ensure that the activities are effectively carried out.
Olujobi said the model was intended to create a multiplier effect, through which trained individuals would become advocates for responsible information consumption and sharing.
She disclosed that MILAP had reached more than 2,000 people through its activities, adding that the organisation maintained records and data to monitor its reach.
The founder also highlighted the importance of practical demonstrations and participant-led activities in measuring progress, noting that the ability of beneficiaries to independently apply and reproduce what they had learned remained a key indicator of the initiative’s impact.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Olujobi said MILAP was intensifying efforts to equip young people with the skills needed to identify AI-generated misinformation and verify political information before sharing it.
She said the organisation trained participants to use fact-checking tools and other verification methods to establish the accuracy of information circulating online.
According to her, the training emphasises hands-on verification rather than relying on assumptions, unconfirmed claims or information shared by others.
Olujobi stressed that technology alone could not address the challenge of misinformation, arguing that individuals must exercise sound judgment and critical thinking when engaging with AI-generated content.
“The first fact-checking tool that you need is your brain,” she said, urging citizens to question information, examine its credibility and avoid accepting digital content without proper evaluation.
She warned that the uncritical use of AI tools could contribute to the spread of misleading information, particularly when users repeatedly rely on automated systems without independently checking the accuracy of their outputs.
Olujobi further disclosed that MILAB had operated a fact-checking team during previous election-related activities, verifying information and sharing findings across its networks to help audiences distinguish accurate reports from false claims.
She said the organisation intended to sustain and strengthen this approach ahead of the 2027 elections by promoting verification practices among young people and encouraging them to take responsibility for the information they distribute.
The MILAP founder maintained that building a media-literate population was essential to reducing the harmful effects of misinformation and strengthening responsible engagement with digital platforms.
She added that the organisation expected participants at its conference to leave with a stronger understanding of information literacy and the ethical use of AI, regardless of their age, profession or educational background.
Olujobi noted that the gathering brought together people from different backgrounds, including librarians, students and professionals, providing an opportunity to promote a shared commitment to responsible information use.
She said the ultimate goal was to ensure that citizens could use AI productively in their work while remaining conscious of the ethical responsibilities and risks associated with the technology.
She called for continued investment in media and information literacy education, stressing that the ability to critically assess information was increasingly important in an environment where digital content could be created and circulated rapidly.
Olujobi said MILAP would continue to expand its school and community initiatives to help young Nigerians develop the critical thinking and technical skills required to navigate the evolving information landscape and contribute to efforts to curb fake news.
