In the heart of Ibadan, my late mother once said, “A single lie can travel faster than a missile, but truth walks barefoot.” Her words have never been more relevant than today, as our society faces a growing wave of misinformation spreading through social media, blogs, and WhatsApp groups like wildfire.
Just like daily routines, manipulated images with false captions, misleading stories, fake audio, AI-generated videos, and deliberately distorted content have become increasingly widespread. Such content often goes viral within a short time. By the time the truth is uncovered, the damage may already be done—trust eroded, fear spread, and consequences difficult to reverse.
But whose fault? The person who created a lie, or the hundreds who forwarded it without verifying?
Fake news isn’t just a joke or a harmless “forward.” It’s a weapon. It destroys reputations, divides communities, ignites violence, and erodes the trust that holds society together. And unfortunately, too many of us have become messengers and massagers, bending the truth for clicks, clout, or chaos.
Why do we share unverified news?
Some do it for attention. Others out of ignorance or fear. Some believe they are helping, not knowing they are spreading harm. But whatever the motive, the result is the same: confusion, conflict, and catastrophe-3Cs.
Our society is bigger than rumors. Our future is brighter than lies.
We must become a people who choose verification over virality. We must be bold enough to ask: Is this true? Is it helpful? What is my role in this message I am passing along?
With this, we will create a stronger, more resilient, and sustainable system—one that rises above unnecessary conflict and frustration.
