Politics
FG recruits army of media managers to counter fake news
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the Federal Government has prepared information officers whose duties are to identify and counter fake news.
He stated this in his keynote address at a capacity building Workshop for Strategic Communication Liaison Officers, with the theme, “Mainstreaming Strategic Communication Across Government for National Security.”
A statement released by his Special Assistant, Segun Adeyemi, quoted the minister as saying that the move was to tackle the menace of fake news with fact-based counter-narrative.
Mohammed said that though the Social Media has proved to be a powerful tool of public communication, it is plagued with challenges, particularly the prevalence of fake news which makes it imperative for Information Officers to brace up and overcome the challenge.
He said, ”Faced with the prevalence of fake news, we took action by preparing Information Officers with the skills to identify and counter such fake news through engagement and counter narrative. Information Officers are assigned to monitor both online and offline news media to identify such fake news and develop timely and credible counter narratives to respond to such fake news.”
Mohammed further reveal that the Federal Government is also implementing a robust strategic communication framework, with feedback mechanism, to interface with Nigerians on the policies and programmes of government.
“For example, we engage through Town Hall Meetings across the six geo-political zones to inform Nigerians and the international community about our programmes and to listen to criticism, feedback and advice from the citizens.
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”Through these meetings, we are able to shape policy and improve on delivering our promises to the people. The town hall meetings, undoubtedly, have yielded positive results with the kind of direct feedback we received from Nigerians. These interactions with Nigerians underscore the importance this administration attaches to the people in carrying them along in the task of governance,” he said.
The Workshop was organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) to build the capacity of Strategic Communication Liaison Officers (SC/LO) across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
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yanju omotodun
July 27, 2017 at 8:39 am
Well, it is a good initiative, people circulate fake news alot and they need to be dealt with. Most of these fake stories they herald had caused so many havoc in the society.
JOHNSON PETER
July 27, 2017 at 2:23 pm
Mr man, you have no sense. He is only trying to fight people giving out info about government secrecy like buhari’s health matter and some other secret some people do try to find out
Anita Kingsley
July 27, 2017 at 10:47 am
This is irrelevant because these people will later be used as another propaganda tool for the next election. Lai Mohammed wants Nigerians to feel he’s out to create a platform of credible information, whereas it has political undertone.
Abeni Adebisi
July 27, 2017 at 11:06 am
Why not look at the positive sides ? Haven’t we had enough of fake new song in the media? Especially social media! It’s time to put an end to fake news so that people can be fed with credible information
Animashaun Ayodeji
July 27, 2017 at 11:03 am
This will go a long way in silencing the likes of fani kayode, Fayose and others who’s are known for saying nonsense and giving out untrue information just to criticize Buhari-led administration. Good one from Lai Mohammed
JOHNSON PETER
July 27, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Laughable, fani and Fayose are strong men like our kanu who don’t dread people no matter who they are
Oise Oikelomen
July 27, 2017 at 2:23 pm
Great initiative, questionable initiator. Could be a good vehicle for improved national communication and even orientation, but the driver of that vehicle I no trust am. Him fit carry us go Waterloo.
Balarabe musa
July 27, 2017 at 3:13 pm
Baba Buhari’s ministers are performing beyond expectations unlike the useless Pdp ministers then
Celestine Nweze
July 28, 2017 at 4:30 pm
If DNA results show that it is actually Buhari they met with then there is high class criminality going on. In that case the silence is considered an extremely wicked act. It is the height of insult on Nigerians for Buhari to be this healthy and refuse to say a word to us. Many people have said things that are similar to what Fayose said, here and overseas, including Sahara Reporters. We will understand what is happening soon enough.