Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

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The General Officer Commanding 2 Mechanise Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Bamidele Alli, has sought a strong collaborations between the Social Media Influencers and the Nigerian Army  in strengthening its activities and curbing the menace of fake news in the country.

The senior military officer explained that members of Army is also relying heavily on the partnership between members of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Social Media Influencers and bloggers in order  to tame the hydra-headed problems of insecurity and the menace of fake news in the country.

General Alli represented by the Commander in charge of 52 Signals Brigade, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier Yunus Zubair, spoke on Ado-Ekiti on Thursday during a seminar organised by Nigerian Army in collaboration with “Ukan Kurugh Foundation.

The programme attended by youths, para-millitary officers, politicians as well as retired military officers has the theme “Countering the Spread of Divisive Contents on Social Media: A Collective Responsibility” described social media influencers and bloggers as critical stakeholders in the efforts towards building a more secure Nigeria central and pivotal in peace building process. 

Describing social media space as one of the tools in strengthening or weakening the menace of insecurity in the country, noted that it has become imperative for every youth or influencer on the computer operating social media handle, to be patriotic and have the unity and interest of the country in pushing any content into the media space.

Speaking earlier, the Chief of Civil- Military Affairs, Major General Nosakhare Ugbo, described the event as one of the many efforts by Nigerian Army in keeping the Social Media Influencers informed of its activities, strengthening the military and curbing the menace of fake news with injurious contents of social media.

Ugbo represented by Brigadier Bola Saheed, the Director Psychological  Operation at the Army Headquarters Department of  Civil-Military Affairs,  said the programme is the 29th editions to be organised by the military, is also geared towards harnessing the efforts of Social Media Influencers to further project the good image of the military within the social domain.

He explained that the theme was carefully crafted in line with the current realities and in tandem with Nigerian Army’s effort at ensuring responsible behavior by all persons within the cyberspace on social media.

Reiterating the continued efforts of the military in exploring avenues to strengthen its civil- military relationship through effective liaison with relevant stakeholders, advocacy groups as well as those he called relevant individuals.

He  however, pointed out that  more concerted, cohesive and stronger united fronts are required to tame the occasional security breach in the nation through the activities of some evil doers.

Describing the programme as one of the channels the military envisaged and improve on its tactics, noted that techniques and procedures of getting feedback and complaints are address by providing solutions.

The programme featured delivery of goodwill messages,  lectures from different resource persons,  interactive session as well as question and answer among others.