Fake news and hate speeches anchored on the use of unbridled language have been the harbingers of conflicts in Nigeria and bane of development over the years.
A lecturer at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL), Professor Ebenezer Olusegun Ogungbe, stated this in an inaugural lecture weekend.
He said: “The fight against the use of foul language, generating and sharing fake news, hate speech and disinformation is a difficult one. In Nigeria, in spite of several policies, legislations, arrest, prosecution and conviction, fake news and hate speech have been difficult to eliminate because of high rate of illiteracy “.
He urged Nigerians to be accurate and truthful in generating and sharing information in the mass media and digital space, adding that, ” generating and sharing false and misleading information can have serious consequences. It is important to be sure of the authenticity of the information before sharing it”.
Professor Ogungbe highlighted the role of journalists and the conventional media in promoting peace and in eliminating conflicts arising from the spread of hate speech and fake news now prevalent in the country.
He said: “There is the need for Nigeria journalists to embrace the concept of peace journalism entailing deliberate use of the profession to promote the culture of peace among citizens in order to prevent further conflicts in Nigeria”.