By Echezona Perpetual Nonye
It is time to empower truth. Let libraries lead the way
In today’s digital era, misinformation spreads faster than the truth, often with grave consequences for public opinion, health, security, and democracy. In Nigeria, the deluge of fake news ranging from false political narratives to dangerous health hoaxes has amplified distrust, provoked violence, and endangered national development. It is in this context that libraries, especially the National Library of Nigeria, must rise to the occasion and assert their role as stewards of credible information. As trusted knowledge institutions and centers of lifelong learning, libraries and librarians are uniquely positioned to lead the national fact-checking movement.
The Case for Librarians as Fact-Checking Leaders
Librarians are trained information professionals equipped with the skills to identify, verify, and organize authentic sources. Their professional ethics emphasize neutrality, accuracy, and the dissemination of truth qualities desperately needed in a digital environment polluted by fake news. Librarians can teach citizens how to distinguish credible sources from deceptive content, especially through public sensitization campaigns, workshops, and information literacy training in schools and communities.
Moreover, libraries have long been centers of authoritative knowledge. With access to curated databases, peer-reviewed journals, archival materials, and government publications, libraries offer a goldmine of credible resources that can serve as a counterbalance to misinformation found on social media. Through digital platforms, libraries can also reach millions of Nigerians with real-time fact-checked updates and verified reports on trending issues.
Why the National Library of Nigeria Must Take the Lead
As the apex library institution in the country, the National Library of Nigeria holds a constitutional mandate to ensure the collection, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge for the intellectual and civic growth of the Nigerian populace. It has the capacity, infrastructure, and national reach to spearhead a fact-checking revolution. With its State branch offices and digital infrastructure, the National Library of Nigeria can coordinate national efforts by:
- Hosting Fact-Checking Desks in public libraries
- Collaborating with journalists, educators, tech innovators, and civil society
- Launching information literacy campaigns nationwide
- Providing training for librarians on emerging misinformation trends
- Creating a digital repository of verified information sources
- Creating an Informed Citizenry
Fake news thrives where there is information poverty. Libraries can close this gap by ensuring citizens have equitable access to accurate and timely information. By incorporating fact-checking education into library outreach programs and promoting critical thinking among users especially students, youth, and rural communities librarians can nurture a generation of informed citizens who do not fall prey to falsehoods.
Additionally, librarians can serve as digital gatekeepers guiding users on how to evaluate the authenticity of social media content, detect deepfakes, and use fact-checking tools such as Google Fact Check Explorer, Africa Check, Dubawa, and others.
Nigeria’s fight against fake news cannot be won by tech platforms or journalists alone. It requires a sustained, grassroots effort led by institutions that enjoy public trust and are grounded in educational principles. Libraries, and particularly the National Library of Nigeria, must seize this moment to reaffirm their relevance in the information age. By leading fact-checking initiatives, training information-savvy citizens, and amplifying access to credible sources, libraries will not only defend the truth they will also deepen Nigeria’s democratic culture and national cohesion.