TECHDIGEST – The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has suspended its Chairman in Gombe State, Rev. Sunday Congo, for sending a congratulatory message to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

Pantami was among seven Readers (Associate Professors) promoted to Professors by the Governing Council of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) at its 186th meeting held on Friday, August 20, 2021.

The Gombe Chapter of the Christian body and that of an Islamic body, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) had separately sent congratulatory letters to Pantami on his promotion and for his contribution towards actualizing Nigeria’s digital economy drive.

Meanwhile, a letter dated 15th September 2021 and signed by CAN’s General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, said Congo’s suspension took immediate effect.

The letter, obtained by PRNigeria, described Congo’s action as provocative, overzealous and tantamount to a unilateral decision made without authorisation and necessary clearance.

In the original letter also obtained by PRNigeria, Rev. Congo through the CAN Secretary in Gombe, Senior Pastor John Adedigba, had extolled Pantami, an Islamic and ICT scholar, over his promotion to the rank of a Professor of Cyber Security by Federal University of Technology, Owerri; describing him as a ‘son’.

Apostle Adedigba wrote, “On behalf of the Christian Community in Gombe State, we happily rejoice and congratulate our son and brother Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami… on your promotion to the rank of Professor of Cyber Security and your two years in office.

“We join you, your family, Gombe State and Nigeria at large to celebrate this promotion, we are proud of you as a son of Gombe State and we pray that it will be useful to Nigerians and humanity at large.”

Apostle Adedigba, said the Christian body is not unaware of Pantami’s great achievements as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

He mentioned some of the few developments, including, “the over one thousand completed projects and almost 400 ongoing projects in Nigeria under your supervision within two years with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari. Indeed you have made us proud as a son, we pray as a Church that God will use you to achieve many more and you will finish well in Jesus name, Amen.”

A day after, an Islamic body, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) Gombe State chapter, also congratulated Pantami on the promotion.

In its letter also obtained by PRNigeria, Chairman JIBWIS, Sheikh Hamza Adam Abdulhamid said, “the service you selflessly rendered in various universities, ministries and agencies gives you a reputation in civil service that makes you worthy of this achievement or even something higher in the world.

“The organisation prays to Almighty Allah (SWT) to give you the wisdom to spearhead the affairs of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the country and globally tirelessly and in a way that will be worthy of emulation by other nations.”

By PRNigeria

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By Inyene Ibanga

TECH DIGEST – It is not news that a Daily Independent newspaper story with the headline, “Disquiet As America Places Nigerian Minister On Watch List”, claimed that the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, had been placed on the terrorism watch list of America’s intelligence service.

The story went viral as several media organisations rushed to push the story to satisfy the desire for ‘content’ that tickles the fancy of their various audiences in cyberspace.

But, today it is news that Daily Independent has retracted the story and tendered an apology to the Minister. This followed its confession that the story was fake news.

Daily Independent admitted that, “We have since realised that the information contained in the story has not been verified to be true.” It declared that “The Minister mentioned in the story, Dr. Isa Pantami, is not known to be on American Terror Watch List, nor is he linked to terror organisations.”

Later some online media claim that Pantami was involved in a plot to assassinate a former Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa more a decade ago.

Not only was this latest allegation faulted by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) among othe groups, it was described as most distasteful and inciting reportage that could breach national security.

Fake news/disinformation is now an integral part of the digital life. It is ubiquitous, it has taken on a life of its own and it possesses the power to create conflict and chaos in the environment.

In fact, the spread of false information, fake news, disinformation and misinformation is linked to the use of social media and the increasing loss of trust in public or government sources in Nigeria.

Also, a growing proportion of consumers are using smartphones as their primary means of online access and more people are now favouring professional media outlets over social media.

Ironically, emerging technology happens to be the double-edged sword that both promotes and prohibits the spread of the menace of fake news. This is so because social media sites have the capacity to rapidly share and spread content among subscribers across geographical distances.

In the digital environment, content can be shared quickly and easily, and in the process, inaccurate and outright fake stories can rapidly find their way to the screens of mobile users at everywhere and anytime.

Technology and innovation offer users the choice of applying these as tools for creating growth or imperilling society. As such, technology should be used to propagate the truth and the fact as they relate to each specific situation and the persons involved.

While many people use these technologies to disseminate falsehood or fabricate insidious narratives, media organisations have the responsibility for peace and stability.

Therefore, Daily Independent ought to have done the needful in verifying the authenticity or otherwise of the story before going to press. Yes, they have expressed their regret over the avoidable blunder.

Despite massive awareness about the evils of fake news, digital technology provides opportunities for the menace to grow. Hence, it is imperative for media organisations and individuals to painstakingly use fact-checking technologies to verify content before they are shared.

Fake news/disinformation has eaten deep into the fabric of every society. And it is here to stay as more sophisticated digital tools/devices continue to hit the market.

But, fact-checking sites and applications abound on the internet for verifying every form of digital content and documents in cyberspace. There are various digital resources to facilitate the verification of content on the internet.

A simple tour of the internet provides access to the many fact-checking websites existing in different regions of the world. Those sites provide services on both political and non-political subjects.

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter promotes excellence in fact-checking as a powerful instrument of accountability journalism, while AfricaCheck is the first independent fact-checking site in Africa.

Dubawa, FactCheckNigeria, and FactCheck Hub are among the different verification and fact-checking sites accessible to media organisations and others.

The latest fact-checking tools for news publishers combine artificial intelligence and crowd-sourcing to help reporters confirm the veracity of all types of content. They are invaluable to organisations with the primary mission of news and information.

If Daily Independent had visited any of the verification sites, the embarrassing situation would not have arisen at all. Still, the inherent lessons from this fiasco must be imbibed by every news and content production enterprise.

With every sense of responsibility, I appeal to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami to accept the apology tendered by the Daily Independent.

I trust that the minister would continue to pursue Nigeria’s digital transformation project in his characteristic transparency and accountability that is most evident in the initiatives undertaken by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other agencies under his ministry’s supervision.

As a matter of urgency, the minister should support NITDA to strengthen collaborations with the media by organising regular training on digital reportage for media practitioners just like the just concluded workshop  for journalists and social media influencers which held in Kano.

The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) can do well by creating a department for verification and fact-checking of video, audio, pictures, and documents to help curb the menace of fake news and disinformation in Nigeria.

Inyene Ibanga writes from Wuye District, Abuja

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TECH DIGEST – Northern Governors Forum expressed support for the government’s move to regulate social media in order to curtail the spread of fake news in the country.

The forum expressed its support in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, after its meeting in Kaduna with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region.

The meeting, which said it took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news, called for major control mechanisms and censorship of social media practice in Nigeria.

It also expressed support for the reform of the police to strengthen their capacity.

“Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course.

“The meeting resolves to support the Police Force to serve the country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the Police,” it said.

The forum called for collective efforts in addressing the lingering challenges of the region, such as the Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy and poverty.

Also the forum set up two committees to push for statutory roles for traditional rulers and engagement with youth and civil society organisations and asked the committee to commence work with immediate effect.

The Committee on Roles of Traditional Rulers is headed by the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage, with two representatives from the National Assembly and a minister as members.

The Committee on Youth and Civil Society Organisations has the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, as Chairman and representatives of elders, youth, women and persons with disability as members from each of the three zones.

Others are representatives of Muslim and Christian clerics, business community and police.

It appreciated the roles traditional rulers played in containing the #EndSARS protests in the region and collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the governance architecture of the country.

The meeting rejected and condemned what it described as the ‘subversive acțions’ of some #EndSARS protesters and endorsed “the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the nation.”

It commended the National Assembly and the Presidency for being proactive in addressing the issues of protests across the country.

The governors also called for an amicable resolution of the ASUU strike to enable students resume their studies.

The forum agreed to hold the meeting regularly and expand it to involve other critical stakeholders such as religious leaders, business community and youths leaders.

It appreciated the roles of religious groups, JNI and CAN, for their positive interventions in resolving the #EndSARS conflicts.

The forum also appreciated the youth in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies during the #EndSARS protest for police reform.

“The meeting expressed concern over the low level involvement of relevant stakeholders in the implementation programmes of the government and calls on the relevant agencies to review implementation strategies to make for maximum impact and benefits,” it said.

The meeting was attended by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Speaker National House of Assembly, Hon Ahmed Idris Wase and Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, among other dignitaries.

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