By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria’s diplomatic community is gearing up for a major international gathering as the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) prepares to host a high-level summit on the rising threat of foreign information manipulation.
Scheduled for 20 May 2026 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the second Diplomatic, Security, Trade, and Investment International Conference will zero in on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) — an increasingly potent tool in modern geopolitical conflict.
DICAN Chairman, Idehai Frederick, said the event is designed to rally global cooperation around what he described as “collaborative truth”, a necessary shield against economic and security instability.
“A secure information environment is essential for strong trade and investment. Misinformation can scare away foreign investors and destabilize local markets,” Frederick said.
The summit is expected to draw a powerful mix of diplomats, intelligence operatives, journalists and business leaders, all tasked with forging stronger ties across sectors that are now deeply intertwined in the fight against disinformation.
Beyond dialogue, organisers say the conference will push for concrete outcomes — including frameworks to counter state-backed propaganda, sharper tools to detect and neutralise hybrid threats, and renewed emphasis on credible, fact-based reporting.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, will deliver the keynote address in his role as DICAN’s Grand Patron. He is set to share the stage with a roster of international voices, including the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, alongside security specialists, regulators and private sector stakeholders.
The upcoming summit builds on the momentum of DICAN’s inaugural conference in July 2025, which attracted participants from more than 60 diplomatic missions, as well as civil society groups and academic institutions.
With stakes higher than ever, DICAN is positioning this year’s gathering as more than just another conference — but a coordinated push to counter the global spread of weaponised falsehoods and reinforce Nigeria’s standing as a stable, investment-friendly destination.