Tinubu to NGE: Use digital literacy, fact checking to combat misinformation

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 the 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 narrative, 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 defence against the corrosive effects of false narrative,” he said.

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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.

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.

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

He 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 while disseminating information to the public.