The Vice Chancellor of Kwara state University (KWASU), Malete, Professor Mohammed Mustapha-Akanbi has called on the Rotary Club International to use its four ways test to assist in fighting fake news in the country to enhance the success of its community projects.
Speaking at the Investiture of the new President of Rotary Club of Ilorin Metro Mr Youssef Sanders in Ilorin, Akanbi said that Rotary Club should fight fake news which is being circulated on social media where it embarks on developmental projects, if it wants it Community projects to have impacts on the society.
The Professor of Law, said “no projects can succeed in a community where fake news is circulating, adding, “Rotary club can help in this regard to use it four ways test to determine what is a fake news especially by subjecting it to these questions; whether it is the truth, is it fair to all concern, is it building good will and better friendship? These are questions that anyone who want to spread news need to ask himself or herself before sending any news.
“I believe that If Rotery club will emphasise these four ways test, our society is going to get better focus on community development, Fall back on this your four ways test in assisting the government in putting an end to fake news” he said
He also stressed the need for Rotary club to assist small organisations as a club of intellectual and experienced people in the area of community development noting that small organisations that are trying to put development projects in rural communities don’t have the goodwill that rotay club have, advising that Rotary club should offer technical assistance to small organisation which will go a a long way in telling their stories.
“Many of these non goverment organisation rely on friends to raise money, your members can give technical assistance in the way of training while their impact in the society will be tremendous.” He said.
In his remarks, Timi of Ede in Osun state, Oba Adesola Lawal, Laminisa 1 who stressed the need for Rotary club to continue to deliver on its mandate in the area of community development by engaging the youths.
The royal father who said that the EndSARS protest was caused by unemployment among the youths in the country stated that some of the youths that have graduated for more than fifteen years could not secure employment and called on the government to address the issue of unemployment in the country to prevent future protest.
The new President of Rotary club of Ilorin Metro, Youssef Sañders said that he would concentrate on provision of more classrooms in public schools and health facilities adding that his plan is to assist poor pregnant women who could not afford to settle their hospital bills after delivery.
“Experience have shown that some pregnant women are held back in government hospitals after delivery of their babies because they are too poor to pay the bill. We have the plan to assist between 150 and 200 women to offset their bills during the 2020/2021Rotarian year”, he said.
On ENDSARS protest, Sanders advised government to engage the youths adding, “once we engage the youths, we will all have a better country because the youths are the future of every country”
Speaking earlier, the outgone president of the club, Mrs Oluwatoyin Musa said that the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic did not affect the programmes of the club during the 2019/2020 year adding that club provided PPE materials to support the goverment fight of the pandemic.