Tinubu calls on editors to combat misinformation

Ini Billie, Uyo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Nigeria Guild of Editors to use digital literacy, responsible reportage and fact-checking to combat misinformation.

While decrying the high level of false narrative and misinformation in the country, President Tinubu said the trend is threatening the fabric of Nigerian society.

Speaking on Wednesday in Uyo while declaring open the 19th Nigeria Editors Conference 2023 held at Ibom Icon Hotel, with the theme “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: The role of the media”, the president appreciated the editors for their role in the fight for democracy.

“We are faced with the proliferation of misinformation and false narratives which threaten the fabric of our society. And it is our collective duty to combat this menace through fact-checking, responsible reporting, promoting media and digital literacy with which we can fortify our defences against the corrosive effects of false narrative,” he said.

President Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that the federal government is working to change the systemic moral decline in the country.

He stated that the implementation of a sustained mass reorientation campaign is aimed at fostering unity, patriotism and promotion of positive values among Nigerians, and called on the editors to support the campaign for moral rectitude among Nigerians.

“Against the background of imminent systemic moral decline over a long period of time leading to the erosion of our national values, it’s my pleasure to inform you that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is working to change the narrative in our country through the implementation of a sustained mass reorientation campaign that aims to foster unity, patriotism and promotion of positive values among Nigerians.

“We seek to collectively reorientate ourselves as Nigerians in the direction of a stronger sense of national identity and shared values. I will therefore appeal to all our editors to support this campaign for national rectitude among Nigerians,” he stated. 

In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, urged the Nigerian Guild of Editors to engender good governance in their reportage to promote the nation’s democracy.

“I want to plead that you use the media, to engender a new template of reportage, one that is developmental-oriented, where our leaders are called to account without being overly obtrusive.

“No one desires a pliant media that acts like the cheerleaders to the government, but in trying to break the news, we should be careful not to break the fabric of the society. You need the nation first in order to freely practice your profession,” he stated.

Eno commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council, for supporting his administration, saying the government is open to constructive criticisms.

He said the government was committed to driving a narrative of governance focused on making the rural dweller reap the dividends of democracy and build trust in government.

In his welcome address, the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba said the conference was part of the Editors’ contributions to the growth and development of not only the media industry but the country in general.

Anaba tasked colleagues with balanced, accurate, factual, and fair reports and implored them to make use of fact-checking tools, in disseminating editorial products to the people adding that was the only effective and efficient way to discharge their constitutional duty under Section 22 of holding power to account and upholding human rights, the rule of law, good governance, and democratic principles.

He also urged political actors not to suppress the press saying, “Always remember that a free press is like oxygen to a democracy. Let nothing be done to stifle the press or shrink freedom of expression and media freedom under any guise.”

On his part, Chairman of the conference and publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka Pemu, lamented the critical economic situation in the country and reminded the editors to always remove unwanted items in disseminating information to the public.