Digital technology: NOUN VC warns against abuse of information

Prof. Olufemi Peters, the Vice-Chancellor, Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has warned the public against wrong dissemination of information through digital technology.

Peters said this at a one-day workshop to commemorate the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, 2024, on Thursday in Abuja.

It was reported that the theme of the workshop is tagged: “New Digital Frontier of Information, Media and Information Literacy for Public Interest Information.”

Peters said that technology had made the spread of information far easier than ever before, adding that people needed to be careful on how they disseminate information.

According to him, people need to be careful on how they disseminate information because of the impact of what is being disseminated to the society.

“After-all, we are not talking to animals or our cars, but we are talking to ourselves.

“We are talking to human beings, so we should be mindful of how we use information and how we disseminate it,” he said.

Peters said that many people engaged in social content and had made millions of money.

“It is extremely important on how we use our content, so many people do make millions of money through generating content, delivering it, disseminating such content to the people.

“It is through the digital technology that all these are being created, so, technology is something we cannot do without. It is something we should all embrace.

“I encourage you that as you listen to our speaker at the workshop you need to appreciate those things that informed content generation, media dissemination and how important it is to us,” he said.

The vice-chancellor said the programme was part of a week-long activities for media, both in Nigeria and across the world.

He advised Nigerians to embrace digital technology, adding that technology had become an essential part of everyday life for people.

“We live in a rapidly changing world that is more interconnected than ever,” he said.

Dr Jacob Suemo, Head of Department, Nile University of Nigeria, said that digital platform was very strong, therefore information must be verified before disseminating it.

Suemo said that disinformation was deliberately created to deceive, often with sophisticated techniques that make it appear credible.

He said that misinformation was a weaponising truthful information to cause harm.

He, however, warned that people should be responsible on how they use social media platform, adding that it associated with number of potential dangers.

“Technology has a profound impact on modern society.

“It has transformed the way we communicate, share information and has empowered individuals and communities,” he added.