The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Abia State, has called on Abians and Nigerians at large to stop the dissemination of unverified information on the public space,as it can impede the nation’s peaceful coexistence.
The Agency who made the call during the one day sensitization and enlightenment program of women and youths in Abia Central senatorial district, said it has become very important to sensitize Abians who use the social media to spread fake news,as its consequences are telling on the peaceful coexistence of the state and nation.
With the theme of the program,”Focusing on Information, Disinformation,Fake news and Hate speech To Foster Growth and Sustainable Development”, the Agency harped on the need for the right information to be put out at all times, if we must record a meaningful development.
In an interview with the State Director, NOA Abia, Mrs Regina Iroha, said the issue of peace is very critical to nation building and as such, any information capable of threatening the nation’s peace should be avoided.
Mrs Iroha disclosed that the sensitization program was apt, particularly at a time the nation and state is faced with the menace of misinformation, hate speeches and fake news, adding that the NOA would not relent in its mandate of correcting and sensitizing the public on the right information to disseminate.
She, however, advised Abians to always verify their information before spreading them, urging them to shun any thing that could threaten the peaceful coexistence of the state or incite the populace negatively.
The NOA Assistant Director of Programmes, Mr Ndubuisi Anozie, said the issue of misinformation, fake news and hate speeches, have adversely affected the nation, hence the sensitization program.
Mr Ndubuisi Anozie
According to him, the advent of social media has provided a vehicle through which these fake news are spread, adding that the only way out is the continuous sensitization of the people to stop the spread of false news,since the activities of these social media users cannot be controlled entirely.
He said the NOA has mapped out a way to continuously educate people to focus only on the right information, adding that when these programmes are done often, people would begin to imbibe the right attitude of spreading only information that could help build a peaceful society.
Anozie further stated that the sensitization program would be done across the six Local Government Areas that make up Abia Central senatorial district,after which, Abia South and North would take their turns.
He also advised that all news stories especially those from social media be properly verified before being peddled, maintaining that any information that talk down on a people, ethnic groups or religion, be totally avoided, as it has the tendency of brewing crisis.
Mr Anozie further appreciated the efforts of the former Senator representing Abia Central senatorial district, Sen Theodore Orji, for initiating the sensitization program in the zone.
Meanwhile,the chairman on the occasion, Prof Steve Obioma Emejuiwe, commended the National Orientation Agency, for organizing the Program,which he said would go a long way in correcting the menace of fake news.
He said no country can succeed or record development on the atmosphere of fake news which is basically a threat to national unity.
Prof Emejuiwe further advocated for love to be preached,which he stated has the capacity to end rancour,promote peace,which would inturn bring progress and end corruption.
Also, the 2023 African Democractic Congress (ADC), candidate for Umuahia North State Constituency and Abia State Coordinator of National Anticorruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC/ICPC/),Rev Blessed Amalambu, called for a collaborative effort to end the spread of fake news, which he said has become the order of the day, commending the NOA for putting up such an eventful program,which he said was timely.
