In a significant move to address the escalating global issue of fake news and disinformation, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) recently received an esteemed delegation of the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE).
The IPIE delegation, headed by a Professor of Sociology and Director of the programme on Democracy and Technology at Oxford University, Dr. Philip N. Howard, included the President and CEO of Peace Tech Lab, UK, Dr. Sheldon Himelfarb. Dr. Sheldon and Dr. Philip Howard are the visionary founders of the IPIE initiative.
Accompanied by Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, an Associate Professor in the University’s Department of Mass Communication, the delegation was received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Professor Bolanle Oboh, on behalf of the University Management.
Professor Oboh commended the IPIE initiative and pledged support for the organization’s collaborative efforts. She also extended the University’s best wishes to Dr. Olunifesi Suraj and the international team of researchers for a fruitful deliberation in their engagements.
The IPIE delegation thereafter convened at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Hub (NITHub), UNILAG for a focused research meeting. The gathering aimed to expand the IPIE network among African scholars and strategize research efforts to find sustainable solutions to global information disorder through policy intervention.
The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) is a Swiss-based body comprising independent experts from across the globe. The group is committed to providing actionable scientific knowledge and policy recommendations to tackle the growing challenges of the global information environment.
Launched at the May, 2023 Nobel Prize Summit, IPIE has quickly grown into a network of over 250 research scientists from more than 55 countries.
Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, a renowned UNESCO Consultant on Media and Information Literacy, is the African regional coordinator for IPIE and leads a diverse group of researchers in collaborating to develop policy measures to combat the menace of global information disorder, fake news, and disinformation.
