UNESCO, Partners Unveil Media Literacy Books to Protect Children From Misinformation

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and its partners have unveiled media and information literacy books designed to help children identify misinformation, fake news and online threats.

The materials, comprising a workbook titled Young Truth Detectives (YTD) and a facilitator’s guide, were presented publicly on Thursday in Abuja. They target children aged six to 10 and aim to develop critical thinking and responsible information-sharing habits from an early age.

The presentation was organised by UNESCO, the Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue Foundation (MILID Foundation), Zedx Original and Two Books One Pen Enhancement Initiative.

Speaking at the event, UNESCO Representative to Nigeria and Head of its Abuja Office, Dr Isaías Barreto da Rosa, said education remained a key tool for combating misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.

He said teaching children to verify facts, question information sources and avoid sharing unverified claims would contribute to building a better-informed society.

Similarly, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, Dr Lateef Idowu Olagunju, said the workbook would help children develop the skills needed to assess information before accepting or sharing it.

He stressed the importance of teaching young learners to establish the source of information and understand the motives behind its publication.

The Director of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute, Dr Sharon Omotoso, urged parents, teachers and other stakeholders to work together to protect children from digital risks.

She identified online scams, identity theft, exploitation, security breaches and the misuse of artificial intelligence as some of the dangers children face while engaging with digital platforms.

Omotoso added that parents must also improve their understanding of emerging technologies to guide children effectively.

The workbook’s author and Executive Director of the MILID Foundation, Chiamaka Okafor-Onumah, said the initiative was developed to establish responsible information habits among children before they grow older.

She explained that the workbook contains six interactive missions, while the accompanying facilitator’s guide is designed to help teachers, parents and community leaders deliver the lessons in schools and community settings.

Okafor-Onumah said the materials were not currently for sale, as the organisers intended to assess their impact before deciding on subsequent steps.

She added that plans were underway to translate the books into local languages and expand access, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The initiative seeks to equip children with lifelong skills to verify information, recognise online dangers and make informed decisions about the content they consume and share.