Sensitisation
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse, Aug. 19, 2018 (NAN) The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) says it has sensitised students of two tertiary institutions in Jigawa, on how to curb hate speech and fake news.
The Program Coordinator of the Center, Mr Ali Sabo, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, on Sunday.
Sabo said that the students were drawn from the College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Ringim, and Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse.
He said that the exercise was conducted with support from MacArthur Foundation between Aug. 14 and Aug. 17 in the two institutions.
“As we are all aware that the issue of spreading hate speech and fake news has become so rampant in our society most especially on social media platforms.
“It is in view of this that CITAD is implementing a project on peace and curbing hate and dangerous speeches and fake news both online and offline.
“We find it very important to engage students of tertiary institutions and sensitise them about the negative impact of spreading such kind of information in the society.
“This might be due to the significant number of youths on social media and the role they can play in stopping this menace,’’ Sabo said.
He explained that the gesture was to equip the students with all the necessary technical knowhow and information tools on how to address the menace.
He added that it was also meant to prepare the students as agents of peace in their respective institutions and communities.
He said that “They were also educated on how to combat hate speech using technology, that is Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
“At the end of the exercise, one of the participants confessed to be among hate speech promoters especially on Facebook.
“However, after the sensitisation, he assured the organisers that he will never engage in such act again.
“While another one said that this is the first time he attended this kind of sensitisation, calling on other organisations to emulate CITAD, and make things different in the country.”
He added that the Chairman, Jigawa State Civil Society Forum, Mr Musbahu Basirka, also commended CITAD for the gesture, especially as the 2019 general elections draw nearer.
“Mr Basirka also appealed to the participants to stay away from any political violence and anything that will hamper the peace of the country during the forthcoming general elections,” he said. (NAN)
MNB/JTJ/MTM
==============
Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Tukur Muntari.