Stand Up Against Fake News – Olawande Tells Journalists

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has called on journalists to take a firm stand against spreading fake news.

Naija News reports that Olawande stated this in Abuja during a courtesy visit by representatives of the Female Journalists Network to his office.

In a statement on Sunday by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Omolara Esan, the Minister noted that fake news could hamper the nation’s progress if not addressed.

“Your professional bodies have a crucial role to play in curbing the menace of fake news, which poses a serious threat to our democratic process. If urgent steps are not taken to address this trend, it could reverse the progress we have made in building our democracy over the years,” he said.

He further emphasized the need for sustained efforts to reorient media practitioners about the negative consequences of fake news.

According to Olawande, “There is a pressing need to sensitize journalists to detach emotion from their work and uphold the highest ethical standards in their profession.”

Speaking on behalf of the Female Journalists Network, Mr. Daniel Black outlined the group’s commitment to promoting social development initiatives.

He highlighted their participation in the upcoming 63rd Commission for Social Development, scheduled to take place from 10th to 14th February, as part of their efforts to amplify the voices of Nigerian civil society organizations and contribute meaningfully to global discussions.

“As a consortium, we aim to use platforms like the United Nations Social Development workshop to foster conversations that address key social indicators such as poverty eradication, women’s inclusion, and other critical areas in Nigeria,” Black said.

He also called on government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to support their initiatives,
noting that collaboration between civil society organizations and the government is vital to addressing rising social challenges.

“We are extending an open invitation to MDAs to attend the program and share insights on their contributions to social development indicators. This collaboration will enable us to develop actionable reports on key issues affecting Nigeria and identify strategies to tackle them collectively,” he emphasized.

In her remarks, the Director of the Network for Social Mobilization at the Ministry, Hajia Amina Dauran, commended the Female Journalists Network for their visit and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to ecollaboratewith the group to drive social development initiatives forward.