NITDA urges Journalists to stop fake news with digital tools

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) urged journalists to use the online resources at their disposal to combat fake news on Friday.

The agency’s Director-General, Mallam Kashitu Abdullahi, provided the advice at a workshop in Port Harcourt that was put on by Image Merchant Promotions Limited and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

According to Abdullahi, the workshop’s focus on the impending general elections, with the title “Imperatives of Digital News Verifications for 2023 Election,” was appropriate.

Abdullahi said the organization was committed to the growth of the digital space, the development of journalists’ human capital, and the promotion of strong digital-based journalism. She was speaking on behalf of Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations.

According to him, such a procedure would be in the country’s best interests.

Abdullahi listed seven strategic important pillars of the agency’s digital economy, including development rules, digital literacy and skills, digital transformation, digital innovation, and cyber security for entrepreneurship.

According to Abdullahi, the goal was to clarify the NITDA’s new strategy in accordance with the government’s present goals, the current circumstances, and to contribute its fair share to the implementation of the index, which was unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2019.

He applauded the NUJ and Image Merchant Promotions Limited for working together to make the workshop a reality.

The overwhelming presence of unregulated social media, where fake news, toxic information, hate speech, divisive and incendiary narratives were in because there were no gatekeepers to direct it, was noted as one of the challenges of the digital age.

He claimed that journalists would be better able to do their jobs and stop the spread of false information if they knew how to conduct fact checks.

Similarly, Mr. Yushau Shuaibu, the Managing Director of Image Merchant, asked journalists to be vigilant and check their sources in order to avoid misleading, deceiving, or otherwise harming the public.

In order to advance society, Shuaibu advised journalists to provide the public with information in a professional and responsible manner.

In order to advance society, Shuaibu advised journalists to provide the public with information in a professional and responsible manner.

Instead of social media influencers whose actions were harmful to the peace and unity of the nation, Shuaibu asked journalists to function as the gatekeepers of society.

The Nigerian Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) National President, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, stated in his speech that the goal of the workshop was to familiarize journalists with digital journalism and fact-checking in advance of the upcoming general elections.

Isiguzo praised the NITDA director general for supporting the plan to train journalists in the nation.

In relation to this year’s election, he said, “We aim to decrease all forms of fake news; we have visited 21 states and want to travel across the nation to be able to build the capability of 2,000 to 3,000 journalists, in advance of the election.”

Isiguzo reaffirmed the union’s dedication to working with the security services to protect journalists before, during, and after the elections.

Participants reportedly received training in digital journalism, fact-checking, digital inclusiveness, media ethics, responsible reporting, and self-censorship in crisis communication, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

(NAN)