Media stakeholders have called for network of crusaders against hate-speech, including the inculcation of the war against the scourge in schools curriculum.
A communiqué issued at the end of a webinar training organized by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in collaboration with Penpushing media for Nigerian journalists dwelled on the role of the media in curtailing hate-speech.
The communique noted that though hate speech has been with us since creation, there was the need for journalists to promote national unity through their mediums.
“We must identify the sources of hate speech and how to tackle it, and make efforts to report victims of hate speech to relevant law enforcement agencies.”
While calling on law enforcement agencies to always “identify hate speech and be alive to their responsibilities in stemming the tide without necessarily discouraging freedom of speech and expression,” the communiqué also urged governments at all levels to be tolerant of opposing views and should not tag criticisms as hate speech.
It further called on the stakeholders in the media industry to train journalists in conflict reporting and multicultural awareness campaign.
The United Nations Country Director (UNIC), Roland Kayanja expressed delight in collaborating with Penpushing Media and urged participants to consider how social media should be regulated to prevent the spread of hate speech on various platforms they operate.
Also, the chairman, Editorial Board of Penpushing Media, Olufunke Fadugba said that organising the event would help journalists focus on how they contribute their quota to discouraging hate speech, stressed on the need to discourage hate speech.
She warned that failure to do so would affects various strata of our national fabrics, and indeed discourage Direct Foreign Investment that the country urgently needed right now.
Participants at the webiner with a theme: “Combating hate speech to build the culture of peace in Nigeria”, observed that “It is dangerous to condone unwholesome practices or to be passive to the menace of hate speech, because it is capable of snowballing into violence with unbearable consequences. The fight against hate speech is a collective responsibility.”
The training featured presentations on “Understanding and Identifying Hate Speech”, “International Principles and National Responses to Hate Speech in Nigeria”, “The Role of CSOs in Countering Hate Speech in Nigeria” as well as Countering Online Hate Speech Through Media and Information Literacy (MIL), Hate Speech, Ethical Journalism and National Security – Navigating the Crossroads and Examining Selected Cases of Hate Speech in Nigeria” among other salient issues.
The speakers and facilitators at the training session include Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, who is a Professor of Mass Communications, Dr Ayodele Johnson, a veteran journalist an Associate Professor ,Lead University, Ibadan and Stella Jibrin(Director Research/Documentation, Nigeria Press Council)
The others are Deacon Owolabi Oladejo(Proprietor Metropolitan Broadcasting Services),Baba Kure Abba Jato(Commissioner Home Affairs Information and Culture ,Borno State) and Comfort Umanah (Managing Director, Redemption 1015fm, Abak).
