Information dissemination is increasingly becoming more sensitive, especially regarding events such as elections.
Nigeria is due to hold its presidential vote on Saturday, February 23, a poll that will see over 84 million Nigerians elect a president from a pool of 73 candidates.
In the run up to that election, the media has played a key role in the distribution of information pertaining the process and participants of the vote.
New media in particular has taken center stage in the dissemination of information.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, home to more than 190 million citizens.
Tens of millions of people in the West African country have access to internet-enabled devices, from which they are able to access information instantly.
This gives them a huge advantage in the access to news, but also posses a huge risk of getting fake news.
Ahead of Saturday’s vote, various incidents of fake news have hit Nigeria, the latest being reports by some outlets that an INEC official had been offered a bribe by one of the presidential candidates. The authority denied the allegations and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant so as not to consume false information.
In an exclusive interview with CGTN, Communications Consultant and Digital Media Specialist Andy Madaki noted that the new media has played a key role in Nigeria’s media scene over recent years, and if used wisely, will continue to provide true information, and also be used by Nigerians to verify any news.
Here’s an extract from his interview;
