The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reiterated the government’s dedication to promoting freedom of expression during a courtesy visit by a team from Google West Africa on October 12, 2023.
He emphasized the importance of providing a platform for individuals to freely express themselves while acknowledging the need for responsible communication to prevent the spread of anarchy.
Minister Idris acknowledged that freedom of expression is a fundamental right and stated that the federal government would continue to foster an environment where everyone can freely express themselves and access information.
These platforms are meant to serve
However, he stressed the significance of responsible information dissemination, cautioning that those responsible for creating platforms and sharing information should be mindful of the potential misuse of such platforms.
The Minister expressed the government’s commitment to partnering with Google in promoting the free flow of information, as he believed that democracy cannot thrive without freedom of expression.
He commended Google for its efforts in combating fake news and expressed the Ministry’s intention to collaborate further with the company and other similar organizations to address the issue effectively.
Google has trained over 3500 journalist
During the meeting, Mr. Olumide Balogun, the leader of the Google West Africa delegation, highlighted Google’s initiatives in training journalists and providing tools for news verification.
He mentioned that over the past three years, Google has trained more than 3,500 journalists, equipping them with digital tools to combat misinformation.
Mr. Balogun also mentioned the Google News integration team, which supports news organizations worldwide, including Nigeria, through the “Google Innovation Challenge.”
Full fact AI
One of the funded innovations, called “full fact,” utilizes AI technology for fact-checking purposes.
In response to the Minister’s call for support, the Google team pledged to assist the Ministry by providing training on online skills to its staff.
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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described the leaked report of the Lagos State panel for the EndSars Protest as fake
Meanwhile, Mohammed said this at a press conference in Abuja today.
The nine-member panel had in its leaked report alleged that at least nine persons were killed at the Lekki toll plaza when soldiers and policemen stormed the scene to disperse protesters on October 20, 2020.
However, Lai Mohammed described the allegations as “tales by moonlight”.
