Buhari declares IPI World Congress open, tasks body on fake news

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, declared open the 2018 International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress, and stressed the need for journalists worldwide to address the menace of fake news and hate speech for the good of humanity.
Speaking during the event, the President said good journalism was panacea for prevalent fake news, disinformation and hate speech.
He said the changing media landscape, the explosion of the social media and the rapidly evolving new technology have had profound impact on media business and media
“It is satisfying, therefore, that you have chosen an appropriate theme for your conference: Why Good Journalism Matters: Quality Media for Strong Societies. In a world where the borderline between hate speech and free speech has become blurred, good journalism matters.
“In an environment where fake news dwarfs investigative reporting, Good Journalism Matters. For survival in an increasingly competitive field, Good Journalism Matters. Good journalism promotes Good Governance,” he said.
The President urged participants to give depth to the topic in their discussions and conclusions, adding that the annual congress was holding in Nigeria during a period of global terrorism.
The President said Nigeria experiences the scourge of terrorism through Boko Haram, which has been technically degraded and has no territorial hold anywhere in its northeast operational base.
He said the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were gradually returning to their communities in reasonable safety and security, adding that “it is a reflection of your (the delegates) assessment of Nigeria as a safe country that you gave the country the hosting right for this conference.”
The President also spoke on the introduction of visa on arrival policy which he described as one of the present administration’s reform initiatives designed to aid ease of doing business in Nigeria.
He said the Nigerian government had provided necessary support for a successful hosting right from the time nation’s delegation presented its hosting bid in Qatar to the granting of that right in Germany last year.

Ministers seek Buhari’s re-election
Meanwhile, four ministers – Finance, Interior, Information and Culture, and Industry, Trade and Investment, said at the congress that the President deserves to be re-elected to build on the development foundation he laid in his first term.
Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said the reason for the President’s re-election was because the economy was well positioned and Nigeria was on the path to sustainable growth and recovery.
She said the nation has never had it so good in terms of its potential to grow and really show what the country can do as a diversified economy that creates opportunities.
Also speaking, Minister of Interior, Mr. Abdulrahman Dambazau, said a re-election for the President was for continuity because “Nigeria cannot get anybody better than President Buhari.”
In his remarks, Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said the present administration has delivered on all its promises to the electorate.
“We promised Nigerians that we were going to fight insecurity, we fought insecurity; we promised Nigerians that we were going to revive the economy, we have revamped the economy. We promised we were going to fight corruption, corruption today is a taboo in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said under the leadership of the President the citizens had changed the conversation in the country.
He said Nigerians are now talking about the importance of security, fighting corruption and good economy “rather than saying corruption is not a problem, it is not different from stealing.”

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