Tuggar, Stakeholders Call For Stronger Media Partnerships To Tackle Disinformation
In a bold call for national and global stability, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has urged journalists and media organisations to adopt more strategic, proactive approaches in combating disinformation and promoting accurate public discourse.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Mr Alkassim Abdulkadir, at the maiden International Conference on Diplomacy and Security organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in Abuja, Tuggar stressed that reactive media practices are no longer sufficient in an age where misinformation rapidly shapes global narratives.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains committed to meaningful initiatives that fight disinformation and promote factual storytelling,” Tuggar said, adding that strategic communication is essential for protecting Nigeria’s image and strengthening trust at home and abroad.
The conference, themed “Nigeria’s 4D Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misperceptions, and the Age of Disinformation”, gathered diplomats, defence chiefs, scholars and media professionals to explore the critical roles of diplomacy, intelligence and journalism in today’s high-stakes global environment.
President of DICAN, Mr Idehai Frederick, emphasised the need for media-diplomatic collaboration, saying, “The time has come for correspondents covering diplomatic and security beats to be equipped with tools for factual, ethical, and conflict-sensitive reporting.”
Representing the Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral I.M. Haruna echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of consistent journalist-diplomat partnerships in tackling transnational threats and misinformation.
The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, represented by Mr Abdulrahman Balogun, also called on journalists to guide Nigerians abroad with verified information. “Disinformation weakens trust. That’s why strategic media engagement is key, especially when it involves our citizens overseas,” she said.
A keynote paper presented by Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Director of the International Centre at the University of Abuja, underscored the media’s dual capacity to either promote peace or fuel instability, depending on how information is managed.
The conference concluded with a strong call for the institutionalisation of regular journalist-diplomat dialogues, fact-checking alliances, and joint training platforms to safeguard the nation’s information ecosystem.
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