Gov Aliyu Urges Social media Influencers to Shun Fake News

By Onuminya Ochoechi, Sokoto

Social media operators have been charged to constantly cross-check their facts if they were to earn reasonable reputation like the conventional media.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, gave the charge on Monday , in his remarks at the 2- day media training workshop for social media aides and influencers organised by the office of his Press Secretary in collaboration with Optimal Image Media Limited.

The workshop with the theme: ‘Navigating the Social media Storms ’ was designed to enhance the potentials and skills of participants.

Represented by his Deputy, Eng. Muhammad Gobir, Aliyu Maintained that social media plays crucial role in the dissemination of information faster than the conventional media.

Aliyu said it was in recognition of this that his administration found it imperative to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the social media handlers so as to be in tune with the latest techniques and technology.

He therefore, stressed the need for the participants to pay more attention to what they would be taught.

According to him, that would enhance their work pointing out that changes, creativity and professionalism are expected to be their guiding principles in the discharge of their work.

The governor also called on the resource persons to use all the available means and method to make it easier for the participants to understand what they would be taught.

In his address,the Chairman of Board of Directors of Image Media Limited, Shu’aibu Mungadi said the role of media towards improving and sustaining democracy cannot be over stated.

He said media being a bridge between government and govern, it became crucial to ensure that media handlers are acquainted with modern trend in the profession.

He acknowledged the efforts being made by the Ahmed Aliyu’s administration to better the lives of the people and stressed the need for such efforts to be publicised to the general public through media.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Image Media Limited, Dahiru Hassa Kera, said the workshop was organised with the aim of educating and empowering social media and influencers on how to carry out their job in line with modernity.

He said experts in media from academia were selected to serve as facilitators for the training.