EKSG reiterates Ekiti Youths’ commitment towards fostering national security, unity

Adebayo Adenrele


…as Nigerian Army engages Content Creators, Bloggers, others on implications of Fake News




The Ekiti State Government has reiterated the committment of Youths in the State towards fostering national unity and security.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Gold Adedayo stated this on thursday in Ado-Ekiti, at a Seminar organised by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Ukan Kurugh Foundation, on the implications of the spread of fake news and injurious contents on social media.

Speaking at the 29th Edition of Nigerian Army Social Media Seminar with the theme, “Countering the spread of divisive contents on Social Media: A Collective Responsibility”, he commended the force for doing a thorough job in protecting the territorial integrity of the nation.

While reiterating the peaceful, intellectual and disciplinary embodiments of the Youths in the state, he expressed the readiness of the Ministry to collaborate and partner with the Force on regular basis.

According to him, “Ekiti Youth are peaceful, intelligent and discipline. I assure you of their cooperation and the Ministry of Youth Development is also available to collaborate and partner with the Nigeria Army at all time.

“Let me commend the Nigerian Army for doing a thorough job to protect the territorial integrity of our nation. I think they deserve our supports in all ramifications.”

In his remarks, the Commander 52 Signals Brigade,HQ 2 Division, Brigadier General Yunus Zubair said the purpose of the seminar was to enable Ekiti Youths and other participants to relate freely with the Nigerian Army and other members of the online community towards working jointly in reinforcing security and national unity through enhanced civil-military relationships.

The Commander noted that the Force has been performing its Civil roles and constitutional responsibilities, to ensure that they close the gaps of communication between the force and the Civil society.

He urged Youths, Bloggers and content creators to be patriotic and put national interest and unity above selfish interest in their publications on the social media space.

In his words, “The NA has been performing our Civil roles, constitutional responsibilities, just to let the people be aware that Nigerian Army is doing so much and but the gap has been there.

“The gap is what what the leadership of Army is actually making efforts to close and to create a lot of awareness.

“Nigerian Civil Military Affairs has the responsibility and duty to ensure that this gap is closed.”

On her part, the representive of Ukan Kurugh Foundation, Magdaline Anthony said the Seminar was aimed at strengthening NA’s civil-military relations as well as curbing the menace of fake news and injurious contents on Social Media to foster a non-kinetic approach to enhance national security.

The Content Creator cum Analyst, urged the Civil society to liaise with the Nigerian Army and all other Security Agencies in order to ensure a Nigeria free from terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, armed robbery, and other social violence militating against the trajectory of national development.

“Through this initiative, the Nigerian Army aims to control, educate the citizens on implications of spreading or promoting an avalanche of fake news and injurious contents on social media as it negatively affects the unity and security of our dear country. The Nigerian Army also considers this program as a partnership which can further strengthen its relationship with the civil populace.

“It is in this regard that the Nigerian Army uses this platform among several others to keep the populace abreast of its activities as well as channels through which the populace can report unprofessional practices or high handedness by any soldier to the appropriate military authorities for redress.

“This special program is organized for all of us as influencers, bloggers, content creators or social advocates to better understand the enormous power we wield and how we can collaborate with the military to achieve the Nigeria we desire. A Nigeria free from terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, armed robbery, and other social violence that deviates us as a nation from the trajectory of development.

“We must collectively work together with the Nigerian Army and all other Security Agencies to make it a safer and more secured place for us to live happily.”

Speaking on “Online Etiquette” the Guest Lecturer, Dr Odigie Ehiz commended the Federal Government for making a move to regulate the activities of social media users.

This according to her, attract sanity and ensure that all Users is conscious of their boundaries without harming other users emotionally, physically and mentally.

“One of the challenges on social media is that people believe they are anonymous behind their computers but when they now understand that there is an impact both mentally, physically and emotionally and others, and it can really affect the Community.

“The Government as far as I’m concerned is trying to create a situation where people abide by rules of engagement, you understand your boundary.

“People can have responsible, creative, quality, non-toxic discussion online and ensure that they don’t circulate things that will cause harm to other people.”