Fake News has been described as a great threat to peaceful co-existence in Nigeria which transcends to political elections and a threat to Democratic Values.
The Director Center for Democracy and Development West Africa Mrs Idayat Hassan stated this at the Opening Session of the Hackathon on Combating Disinformation and Fake News in Northern Nigeria .
Mrs Idayat said In recent times, fake news and disinformation around politics, governance, elections and conflict in Nigeria have become common.
She said their commonality is not the only threat to Nigeria’s democratic values and existence but posed a serious challenge to the mutual and peaceful coexistence of diverse Nigerians.
According to Idayat that is why civil society organization with the mandate of safeguarding and promoting democratic culture, values and existence believed must do everything possible to avert scenario of Fake News and disinformation threatening Nigeria especially the North.
The CDD Director West Africa said the population of Nigerians on different social media platforms is increasing by the day, while that is a welcome development for reasons such as political discussion, expression of opinions, accountability, prompt sharing and exchange of information, etc, it also portends certain experiences or incidences that require robust interventions to make the online space safe and peaceful.
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She described disinformation and fake news as having repercussions on societal peace and progress.
According to her Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) became concerned about the rising disinformation and fake news incidences not only on social media platforms, or blog spots but in the mainstream media.
Mrs Idayat Hassan pointed out that is the reason why the centre is deploying multiple tools on combating disinformation and fake news in Nigeria, and today’s hackathon is one of them.
‘’For the past two years, CDD has been making efforts to combat disinformation and fake news in Nigeria and recently in Northern Nigeria through the fact-checking, weekly radio programme, jingles on the radio station, social influencers on social media and continuous online campaign, use of native songs to enlighten the populace’’
‘’The hackathon which we are kick-starting today is born out of CDD’s desire to generate concrete and realistic ideas or solutions that will help combat disinformation and fake news particularly in Northern Nigeria’’
Idayat Hassan believed that opening up for ideas and solutions to emerge from a variety of people is a good strategy to address fake news, that is the reason why CDD announced the call for applications
She added that months back hackathon received in total, two hundred (2000) applications from numerous individuals wanting to showcase their ideas at the hackathon and after review shortlisted fifty (50) young men and women from Northern Nigeria.
According to the Director West Africa Out of these twenty (20) participants, three (3) best ideas or solutions will be selected by a team of expert judges over the next three (3) days of brainstorming sessions.
She added that Prizes have been reserved for the best three (3) ideas that will emerge. The prizes include winning 1000 dollars, opportunity to participate in the regional hackathon as well as fellowship.
The Director CDD West Africa also thanked all participants who join the opening session of the hackathon and wish all the participants well as they showcase their ideas and solutions to combating fake news and disinformation in Northern Nigeria.
She concluded that CDD will remain focused and determined in its the pursuit of seeing a society where fake news and disinformation aren’t constructed, shared or promoted.
