The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has urged bloggers and other digital media practitioners in the country to verify information before publishing or sharing it, particularly as social media has made it possible for virtually anyone with a smartphone to act as a reporter, editor and publisher.
Idris made the call at a one-day summit in Abuja organised by the Niger Bloggers, Online Publishers and Content Developers Group, under the theme, “Nigeria First, Before Anything.”
The summit was hosted by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and convened by Yahaya Mohammed Usman and Nurudeen Isiyaku Daza.
The minister stressed the need for accuracy, professionalism and national interest in editorial decisions, noting that the traditional media system has established editorial processes that help ensure the credibility of published information.
He also called on Nigerians to support the ongoing reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, emphasising the importance of collective efforts towards national development.
Idris pledged to sustain quarterly engagements with Niger State bloggers, online publishers and content developers, promising to expand future meetings into two-day programmes to provide more opportunities for capacity building, knowledge sharing and wider participation.
Meanwhile, bloggers, online publishers and content developers from Niger State pledged at the event to promote responsible journalism, factual reporting and Nigeria’s national interest while exercising their constitutional right to hold public officials accountable.
Earlier, the guest speaker, Dr Yunusa Umar, an expert in International Affairs and Area Studies from Beijing Foreign Studies University, China, called on Nigerians to avoid spreading negative narratives about their country out of anger or frustration.
Umar emphasised the importance of patriotism and responsible communication, warning that false or disparaging information about Nigeria could damage its international reputation.
Sharing a personal experience, he disclosed that he had once been denied a visa to another country, which he attributed to negative narratives about Nigeria circulating on social media at the time.
He also compared Nigeria’s freedom of expression with restrictions in other countries, including China, arguing that Nigerians should exercise their rights responsibly and consider the wider implications of their public statements.
In a goodwill message, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, Malam Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, urged media practitioners to uphold accuracy, fairness, professionalism and the ethics of journalism.
Abdulaziz acknowledged the constitutional right of citizens to criticise government policies and public officials but stressed that such criticism should be constructive, factual and guided by the national interest.
At the end of the summit, participants adopted resolutions committing themselves to the highest standards of journalism, ethical conduct and responsible public engagement.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to projecting Nigeria positively while holding public officials accountable through factual reporting and constructive criticism.
The participants expressed appreciation to Idris for hosting the summit and sustaining engagements with digital media practitioners from Niger State. They equally commended Abdulaziz for his contributions to discussions on responsible journalism and national development.
The forum further pledged to apply the knowledge gained at the summit to promote patriotism, professional development and responsible use of digital media.
