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By Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has charged media influencers to guard against misinformation in the discharge of their assignments.
Speaking during the opening of the first Arewa media summit in Kano, Abdulaziz cautioned that the line between free expression and reckless amplification was getting thinner by the day.
He charged influencers to see themselves as custodians of public peace, not just content creators.
“Fact-check before you post, correct mistakes openly and never allow the urge to trend to cost us our country,” he advised.
He added that ethical media practice restores trust, noting that accurate reporting, fair context and verified facts give citizens confidence and give the government the feedback it needs to serve better.
He acknowledged the growing influence of social media creators in the polity, adding that “they command the attention our newsrooms once held alone. A viral post can mobilise hope, but it can also mobilise anger before facts are checked.”
Minister of Information, Muhammad Idris, in his speech, said that Northern Nigeria’s future depends on balanced and responsible reporting.
“The future of Northern Nigeria will not be determined only by the quality of our roads, farms or industries. It will also be shaped by the quality of our ideas and the stories we tell about ourselves,” he said.
He urged journalists to uphold accuracy amid rising misinformation.
He listed federal initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including infrastructure, education, NELFUND and highway projects.
Dignitaries present at the occasion included Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, representatives of the government of Yobe and Kebbi states, the NUJ, media executives and digital creators.
