Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) organizes 2-Day Training for Media Practitioners, CSOs, Government Officials,other on Countering Fakenews

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in collaboration with Tomruk iHub Multiverse and DAFUDA has organized a strategic training programme to equip media practitioners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), community leaders and government officials with the requisite knowledge and skills needed to counteract the spread of fake news effectively.

The imperative of the strategic programme, according to the organizers stems from the harmful role that misinformation, disinformation and malinformation play in influencing perceptions and potentially undermining peace-building efforts in Nigeria.

The event which held from Tuesday 23rd April to Thursday 25th April, 2024 at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre Asokoro had the theme ‘COMBATING FAKE NEWS IN THE SECURITY, INTELLIGENCE ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC SERVICE ECOSYSTEM FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND NATIONAL PEACE’.

The training was conducted by seasoned resource persons including Odeyemi Olayiwole CEO Inspired to Lead, Lateef Sani from Center for Journalism and innovative Development, Job David Ayuba the CEO of Tomruk iHub Multiverse, Austin Aigbe the Lead Consultant at DebunkITNG and David Akoji, Director, Special Duties and States Operations of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Participants at the training benefited from intensed interactive sessions, practical exercises and discussions, which provided them the opportunity to experience a comprehensive and engaging learning package.

Participants were drawn from the Defense Headquarters of the Nigerian Military, National Bureau of Statistics, National Judicial Institute, Ministry of Petroleum, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Plateau State Government, members of Civil Society Organizations etc

Speaking at the event on behalf of the organizers, Mr Joseph Ochogwu said “This era of digital technology and the rate that digital technology is advancing, you know, and the rate at which fifth columnists, fakers, hackers, destabilizers, agents of conflict, you know, are parading and using digital technology to create fake news within the ecosystem”. This according to them was the reason for organizing the event which they called “National Fact Checking Course”.

“The essence is to enable participants to identify what is fake to prevent fake news from circulating within our information system.” He added.

The National Orientation Agency encouraged social media users to come into association for self regulation. Speaking on behalf of the agency Mr David Koji said the essence of the event was to “encourage social media enthusiasts to come into associations and self regulate. Do you understand? Just like NBA, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical association, you know, these are institutions that self regulate and have specified penalties for people who go against with what they do. Regulation of a moderate sort is extremely important.”

Some of the participants agreed that the current narrative of the spread of fake news and negative use of social media needs to be overhauled.

Job Ayuba of Tumruk Hub Multiverse said “The first stage to regulating social media is self regulation and which is what we are currently doing right now, one of the reasons why it has always been very difficult to get the support of Nigerians when it comes to the regulation of social media is because of the level of trust in the country.” He added that People don’t trust the organizations entrusted with the responsibility of regulating social media, this according to him is responsible for the difficulty being faced in social media regulation.