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The Nigerian Army has enlisted the help of Nollywood actor Osita Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw, to promote responsible social media use.
The collaboration aims to educate social media users on the dangers of spreading misinformation and to encourage responsible sharing of information.
The initiative was launched on April 24, 2024, with a seminar in Abia, attended by over 300 social media practitioners and journalists.
The event, organized by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs, sought to engage the youths in a discussion on the responsible use of social media and its role in national security.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Nosa Ugbo, emphasized the importance of collective security responsibility, stating that “security is everybody’s business.”
He highlighted the seminar’s goal of creating a platform for cross-fertilization of ideas between the military and the youths on how best to deploy social media without causing a breach of peace and security.
In his address, the Garrison Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, expressed delight over the event, acknowledging the pivotal role social media users play in nation-building.
He called for social media users to stay away from fake news, citing its potential harm to national security, economy, and society in general.
A resource person, Dr Ehiz Odigie, spoke on “Curtailling negative contents on social media: Responsibilities of users,” highlighting the dangers of fake news and its impact on national security.
Similarly, Prof. Joshua Ogbonna of the Abia State University, Uturu, discussed the effects of fake news on national security, urging social media users to fact-check information before publishing or posting.
Osita Iheme, the Nollywood star known for his iconic role as Pawpaw, urged social media users to minimize what they post and to always verify the authenticity of their information before sharing.
He emphasized that social media should be used to educate and sensitize people, not to incite public unrest.
Prof. Uwaoma Uche of the Gregory University, Uturu, stressed the need for a more pragmatic and concerted approach to combat fake news spread via social media.
He pointed out that the media space is dominated by individuals without professional training in communication and mass media, posing a significant threat to the country’s social security.
Participants, including the Abia President of the Online Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Promise Okoro, and the immediate past President of the Students Union Government, Abia Polytechnic, Aba, Edwin Chijioke, praised the seminar for its impact and relevance.
They highlighted the importance of using social media responsibly, given its potential to cause social tension and security breaches.
The Nigerian Army distributed certificates of participation to attendees and provided souvenirs, marking the successful event aimed at promoting responsible social media use and safeguarding national security.
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