By Adedamola Adedigba
RoundCheck Organisation has called on Nigerian journalists and youths to embrace poetry as a means of promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL).
The organisers highlighted that spoken word poetry, in particular, has proven to be a powerful tool for raising awareness about MIL, fostering critical thinking, and enabling effective communication across diverse audiences and segments of society.
This was part of the major discussion at the first edition of Truth in Verse, a poetry festival on Media and Information Literacy organised by RoundCheck, which took place at the University of Lagos, Akoka, on December 12, 2025.
The focus of the event was on how poetry, journalism, and creative expression can advance MIL.
The Executive Director of RoundCheck, Mr Caleb Ijioma, in his opening remarks, explained that Truth in Verse was born out of his love for spoken word poetry, which he seeks to use as a tool to promote Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and curb misinformation in society.
According to him, the festival featured workshops, panel sessions, and poetry recitations designed to help students and poets learn how to use poetry as a tool for improving Media and Information Literacy (MIL).
He said: “Audiovisual content, civic games, and poetry and verse are effective tools to educate young people and promote media literacy.”
Ijioma added that RoundCheck has reached countless students over the years through these innovative, youth-friendly approaches.
The festival featured multiple panel sessions where experts discussed ways newsrooms could enhance Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and explored various strategies to promote its practice across Africa.
A senior reporter with The Nation newspaper, Mr Alao Abiodun, stressed the importance of integrating fact-checking into newsroom practices and providing comprehensive training for all reporters.
“Every newsroom, whether an online news organisation or a print organisation, must have staff to verify their claims,” he said, adding that reporters should take full responsibility and work diligently within their assigned beats.
Mr Victor Ejechi, a Data Analyst and Head of Insights at SBN Intelligence, emphasised the critical role of data in reporting, noting that it enhances storytelling and makes news reports easier to read.
He explained that insight-driven reporting prevents audiences from being misled by statistics, while journalists should be equipped with background knowledge, an understanding of policy contexts, and the ability to collaborate with analysts.
While reacting, Allwell Okpi, a Community Manager at Africa Check, noted that there have been attempts at collaboration between newsrooms and fact-checking organisations through training programmes and content-sharing initiatives, but most of these efforts were short-lived and did not result in long-term partnerships.
He urged the need for structured and sustainable partnerships where fact-checking knowledge is transferred directly into newsrooms.
UNESCO MIL expert, Dr Olunifesi Suraj, explained how fact-checking can be integrated into classrooms. He urged the government to invest funds to promote media and information literacy.
Suraj said: “Journalists should undergo MIL training before entering the newsroom; students should not graduate without acquiring practical fact-checking and verification skills.”
He also maintained that certifications, online courses, webinars, and open-source learning platforms are available and should be widely utilised.
The Founder of Naija Poetry Fest, Godson Osarenren, highlighted that poetry is a powerful tool and weapon that is louder than words.
He noted that collaborating with Nigerian youth can drive advocacy for change, stressing that uniting young people through creative platforms amplifies their voices and fosters social transformation.
In the same vein, spoken word artist Mariam Tijani noted that poetry is a very powerful tool for change, with the ability to transform complex ideas into simple meanings.
In her words: “The use of indigenous languages will help illiterate and semi-literate audiences understand the basics of media literacy.”
She recommended that organisations should organise competitions focused on media literacy to ensure wider awareness and participation across different segments of society.
Some key recommendations included using creative tools such as poetry, music, and spoken word to engage young people in Media and Information Literacy; adopting indigenous languages to reach grassroots audiences; and encouraging collaboration among poets, creatives, and organisations to strengthen media literacy education.
The Deputy Editor of Africa Check, Motuntayo Joel, while delivering a goodwill message, urged young people to make it a habit to verify information before sharing it, emphasising that they should not be agents of spreading fake news.
Participants at the event included students, journalists, poets, and professionals from across society.
One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of RoundCheck’s new product, Civic Play, a web-based game created to improve civic awareness and foster civic participation.
The Project Manager, Ilerioluwa Philips, explained that the web game was created with young Nigerians in mind, allowing them to learn while having fun.
