A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Uwais, has been preferred as the chairman of the Democracy Stability and Media Accountability Project (DESMAP).
The members of the DESMAP were officially inaugurated after a one-day policy dialogue forum organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
DESMAP is aimed at addressing the administrative and legal gaps existing in the extant body of laws and code of ethics of journalism and media practice in Nigeria, especially as they relate to the propagation of dangerous hate speeches.
Other members of the DESMAP are Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, the founder, Alhaji Wada Maida, Udoh Jude Ilo, Soni Irabor and Asmau Joda.
Speaking during the inauguration, Professor Gambari said the council would research on peace and reach out to segments of the society, especially the media.
He said foul language and hate speeches, were majorly included in newspaper advertisements during activities preceding the 2015 election, and were believed to have cost the country and individuals a lot of economic and job losses.
