NOUN's Mustapha Momoh Warns on Information Overload

On September 24, 2026, Mustapha Momoh, a Professor of Information Management and Management Information Systems at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), delivered the university’s 43rd Inaugural Lecture at the Conference Centre in Abuja. The lecture, titled “Managing Information Sources, Utilisation and the Need to Know,” addressed the challenges of navigating an information-rich environment.

Momoh warned that the abundance of information does not guarantee good decision-making, stressing the need to evaluate the credibility, relevance, and usefulness of information. He highlighted the transition from information scarcity to overload and noted the risks of misinformation and disinformation.

Momoh distinguished between being “information-rich” and “information-wise,” asserting that effective decision-making relies on the proper evaluation of information. He described information as a vital resource for decision-making and organizational performance, linking it to historical revolutions.

He urged individuals and organizations to enhance their capacity to discern valuable information from irrelevant data.