Polish Envoy Highlights Media’s Crucial Role in Combating Disinformation

Polish Ambassador Highlights Media’s Role in Combating Global Disinformation

The Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, Mr. Michal Cygan, has emphasized the critical role of mass media in combating disinformation across societies worldwide. Speaking at a journalists’ meeting in Abuja, Cygan noted that disinformation transcends language barriers and requires coordinated media efforts to address effectively.

“Disinformation and misinformation do not operate in just one language. They transcend all languages of the world to cause harm,” Cygan stated during the event organized by the Polish Embassy in partnership with the Female Journalists’ Network of Nigeria.

The gathering, themed “Bridging Perception Gaps: Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fake News for Stronger Nigeria-Poland Relations,” brought together media professionals to discuss strategies for countering false information that could potentially harm bilateral relations between the two countries.

Cygan highlighted the media’s unique position to combat misinformation through its extensive reach and agenda-setting capabilities. He stressed the importance of continued training and collaborative meetings for journalists as essential tools in the fight against disinformation in both Polish and Nigerian societies.

Jibrin Ndace, Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VoN), echoed these sentiments, describing misinformation as “a major challenge to national cohesion, diplomatic engagement, and public confidence” globally. He emphasized that for democratic nations like Nigeria and Poland, truth and accuracy in information are fundamental to building stronger international ties.

“At VoN, our mandate is to present the authentic Nigerian narrative to the world, strengthen national identity, and promote understanding between Nigeria and the global community,” Ndace explained. “This responsibility has become even more urgent as false narratives continue to spread faster than verified facts.”

The VoN chief highlighted his organization’s commitment to fact-based reporting, digital literacy promotion, and developing partnerships that support responsible journalism. He also noted VoN’s multilingual broadcasting approach, which includes English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulfulde, with plans to expand to Mandarin and Portuguese in the near future.

Ndace took the opportunity to recognize the significant contributions of female broadcasters at VoN, stating that “women are at the heart of the organization.” He praised their leadership across key departments and their role in driving major editorial and administrative decisions with “professionalism, courage, and creativity.”

Professor Okey Ikechukwu, Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, provided context on how the digital revolution has transformed the global information landscape. He explained that governments now communicate through both traditional diplomatic channels and media platforms at unprecedented speeds, creating an environment where misinformation flourishes amid information overload.

“The truth has become a problem, as governments are increasingly relying on sundry media content,” Ikechukwu observed. “Media diplomacy, which always relied on careful messaging, is now faced with an ecosystem wherein truth competes with manipulated information and viral half-truths.”

Ikechukwu noted that modern diplomatic communication has expanded beyond traditional media to include platforms like Twitter and TikTok, where governments issue policy statements and engage global audiences. However, the same technologies that enable rapid diplomatic engagement also facilitate the global spread of misinformation.

As a solution, he proposed treating truth as a form of “soft power” that can provide states with credibility and media leverage. This approach, according to Ikechukwu, would help safeguard the integrity of international relations while promoting accuracy, accountability, and public trust in an era characterized by widespread disinformation.

The gathering highlighted the growing importance of media literacy and fact-checking in international relations, particularly as Poland and Nigeria seek to strengthen their diplomatic and economic ties amid global information challenges.