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ECOWAS Launches Collaboration with Media to Combat Disinformation about Socioeconomic Development of West Africa
ECOWAS Launches Collaboration with Media to Combat Disinformation about Socioeconomic Development of West Africa
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in order to enhance its image and showcase its contributions to the socioeconomic development of West Africa on Thursday launched a collaboration with media across the region.
Speaking at the inaugural session which brought government-owned media outfits across the region together in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria,the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President of ECOWAS Commission, Hon. Abdou Kolley, said the initiative was created in order to promote an accurate reporting of ECOWAS activities and tackling the growing issue of disinformation.
Kolley said the event, themed ‘Strategic Engagement with Public Media Actors in Our Member States to Strengthen Collaboration and Positive Coverage of ECOWAS Programmes and to Combat Disinformation in West Africa,’ is also timed to prepare ground for the forthcoming ECOWAS’s 50th-anniversary celebrations and to bring information to the people of the region on the contributions of the bloc to the socioeconomic wellbeing and humanitarian interventions in the last half century.
Kolley while addressing media leaders from across West Africa at the inaugural high-level consultative meeting in Abuja, noted that the programme was organised in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), noting that the two-day event is part of a broader push to ensure media outlets serve as key partners in promoting ECOWAS’s mission of regional integration, peace, and development.
During the address, delivered on behalf of ECOWAS President, Dr. Omar Touray, Kolley stressed the critical role that media plays in shaping public opinion and influencing the socio-political landscape.
He noted that misinformation, particularly on social media, remains a significant challenge for the organisation, making accurate media coverage essential.
He said: “The ECOWAS Commission recognises the media as one of our indispensable and critical stakeholders.
“As gatekeepers and purveyors of information, we are fully aware of the important role of the media in creating and maintaining goodwill and mutual understanding between the Commission and its people.
“This explains why the Commission has convened this important stakeholders’ meeting with the Heads of government-owned broadcast stations as part of our ongoing efforts to proactively broaden our engagement and strengthen our collaboration with the media towards achieving our common and shared vision as encapsulated by our vision 2050, this on the eve of the celebration of 50 years of existence of our institution.”
Kolley noted that the media’s role in countering false narratives and raising awareness about ECOWAS’s achievements is crucial for fostering regional unity and public trust.
He said the meeting is coming up at a time when West Africa is facing multiple challenges, including political instability, economic pressures, and a surge in misinformation across digital platforms.
He revealed that the partnership between ECOWAS and the MFWA, formalised in December 2023, aims to build media capacity in tackling these challenges.
He said the collaboration will focus on promoting democratic values, countering disinformation, and fostering peace in the region.
Kolley also shared highlights from the 2024 Interim Report on the state of ECOWAS institutions, pointing out progress made in economic integration, peacebuilding efforts, and humanitarian responses.
He however noted that misinformation often overshadow these achievements, which is why ECOWAS is keen to deepen its media partnerships.
He said: “The summary presentation of the results recorded during the first half of 2024 shows that ECOWAS is making a definite effort to support its Member States.
“Unfortunately, however, our populations are not very well informed about these efforts. Instead, they are inundated with false information deliberately disseminated by certain vile individuals via the social media with the aim of destroying our common institution.
“Indeed, as is often said, the absence of credible information is a breeding ground for disinformation,” the Chief of Staff lamented.
Kolley called on media partners to continue working closely with ECOWAS to inform and engage the public, ensuring that the organisation’s work is well understood and appreciated across West Africa.
He said: “I, therefore hope that at the end of this two-day interactive meeting, the Commission will be in a better position to: Coordinate with national media partners to raise awareness of ECOWAS and its activities in the Member States among the citizens of the Community by increasing media programmes on ECOWAS as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of our institution.
“Strengthen the capacity of the media in Member States to contribute to the reinforcement of democratic values and peace through media initiatives focusing on combating narratives of violent extremism and radicalisation; and combating misinformation.”
ECOWAS Launches Collaboration with Media to Combat Disinformation about Socioeconomic Development of West Africa
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe state police command has arrested prime suspect Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years for the gruesome killing of Lawan Adamu, 28 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu, Yobe state capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, MNIPR, disclosed this to newsmen in a crime update report. He said the command has condemned the gruesome killing of a young man, Lawan Adamu, at the outskirts of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.
“On September 15, ‘A’ Division Police Headquarters Damaturu received a distress call reporting a corpse with deep cuts. Police arrived to find the victim with deep throat cuts and multiple stab wounds; a bloodstained knife was recovered at the scene.
The body was removed to General Hospital Damaturu, where it was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital morgue.
Deliberate efforts by the Division led to the arrest of the prime suspect, Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has directed detectives to expand their investigation to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.
He further assures the public that the investigation will be swift and thorough, as justice will certainly be served accordingly.
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
…Acknowledges Donations from Agric Ministry, NEMA, NNPC
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of the devastating Maiduguri flooding taking refuge in about 36 camps across the state capital Maiduguri and environs.
Maiduguri and parts of Jere and Konduga local governments were left submerged in water as a result overflowing water from Alau Dam due to massive rainfall, leaving about 2 million people displaced and properties put at several billions of Naira destroyed.
The flag-off ceremony took place on Monday, at Bakasi camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.
The relief materials shared include a bag of 25kg of rice, a carton of pasta and N10,000 cash.
Speaking to journalists at the venue of the distribution, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum decried the fact that many people not affected by the flood are troupling to the IDP camps, thereby making it difficult for smooth distribution of the palliatives to the people who were actually affected.
He said: “We observed that it is no more sustainable to continue receiving people in the camps because many people that were not affected are troupling to the camps.”
In addition to distributing relief materials, the governor also announced plans to comprehensively assess the affected areas, which will inform future interventions.
He stated: “So we decided to mobilise the resources and ensure that each affected victim had the relief items.
“We have also concluded arrangements that we shall do the assessment at the communities to verify the actual number of those that were affected.”
Also speaking, the senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, commended the governor for his leadership.
He said: “Let me commend the governor for providing leadership since the flooding started; he was out with his entire team trying to carry out search and rescue and assisting his people. I also joined His Excellency in commending our donors and urging others to complement the government in assisting victims.”
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, highlighted her agency’s interventions for victims of the flood disaster.
She said since the flooding started the agency has been providing shelters and mobile water purifiers to provide clean drinking water to those affected.
Meanwhile, Zulum has acknowledged the receipt of a food donation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to support the victims of the recent flood disaster.
The occasion was attended by the Senator representing Borno North, Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno, members of the House of Representatives, and Borno State Executive Council.
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
By: Our Reporter
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has condoled with Sen. Musa Mustapha, over the death of his senior brother, Alh. Tijjani Mustapha.
Gov. Buni who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Baba Malam Wali Mni, described the passage of late Tijjani as a very sad loss.
He said the death of Alh. Tijjani is a huge loss not only to the family but his community and the state.
Gov. Buni prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased “May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al Jannatu Firdaus.
“May He grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” Governor Buni further prayed.
The SSG was accompanied by the the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Ustaz Babagana Malam Kyari, Permanent Secretary Protocol Alh. Kashim Kalli, the PPS Alh. Liman Ibrahim and DG Press Malam Mamman Mohammed.
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Transformation of Service Delivery to Nigerians
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
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