By joshua Social Media Has Deepened Democracy, But Fake News Remains a Threat- Akogun Ajibola
By Our Reporters
A senior media professional and former Managing Director of DailyTrust Newspaper , HRH Akogun Isiaq Ajibola, has urged Nigerians to guard against fake news as social media deepens democracy warning that the growing democratisation of information must be accompanied by greater responsibility among citizens.
Ajibola made the call on Wednesday as a Special Guest of Honour at the public lecture titled “Economic Reforms and Sustainable Economic Development in a Democracy,” held at the National Merit House, Abuja.
Reflecting on the role of the media in Nigeria’s democratic journey, He recalled that the struggle against military rule and for the restoration of democracy was championed largely by courageous independent media organisations and journalists who operated under difficult circumstances.
He noted, however, that the media landscape has changed fundamentally with the emergence of smartphones and social media.
“In those days, the independent media played a major role in fighting for democracy. Today, almost everybody has a phone, and in a sense, every citizen has become part of the media,” he said.
According to him, this development has made democracy more engaging and participatory, as citizens can now record events, expose inadequacies in governance, question public officials and share information almost instantaneously.
His Highness, however, cautioned that the same technology that has empowered citizens has also created fertile ground for fake news, misinformation and deliberate distortion.
He stressed that citizens must increasingly develop the ability to distinguish genuine and credible information from fabricated stories before believing or forwarding them.
“The phone has given everyone a voice, but that voice comes with responsibility. We must learn to ask questions about the source of information and verify what we receive before sharing it. Fake news can do serious damage to society and to democracy itself,” he said.
He maintained that social media should continue to serve as an instrument for strengthening citizen participation and holding leaders accountable, but warned that its benefits could be undermined if citizens failed to use the platforms responsibly.
The lecture was chaired by veteran journalist Moji Makanjuola, while Hon. Asiwaju Asiru delivered the keynote address as Guest Speaker.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to several distinguished Nigerians in recognition of their contributions to public service and national development.
Among the award recipients were the Minister of Interior, Senator Sunday Karimi, and Hon. Arch. Salman Idris, among others.
The Democracy Newsline Newspaper Public Lecture brought together journalists, public officials, political leaders and other stakeholders to examine the challenges of pursuing economic reforms within a democratic system and the importance of public engagement, accountability and effective communication in sustaining such reforms.