President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned young Nigerians about the dangers posed by misinformation, disinformation, and divisive rhetoric in the digital age. Speaking at a recent summit on new media and digital communication held in Abuja on August 1, 2025, Tinubu emphasized that misinformation spreads at least five times faster than official corrections, making the control of fake news a critical national challenge.
He urged Nigerian youths and social media influencers to harness the power of new media responsibly to foster unity, promote national development, and combat social disharmony. Tinubu called for a collective effort to verify information before sharing ("Verify Before You Amplify") to curb the rapid spread of falsehoods. He highlighted concerns around unchecked AI-generated content and cyber threats, urging vigilance and ethical online behavior.
The President expressed optimism that the summit would catalyze effective strategies to address the growing menace of fake news, emphasizing that digital platforms should be used to build Nigeria rather than cause division or chaos.