Army Engages Social Media Influencers/Bloggers on a one Day Interactive Seminar

By Cynthia Igbokwe

In a bid to eliminate or rather reduce fake News and misinformation more especially on social media handles in the country, the Nigerian Army have engaged Social Media Influencers and bloggers on a one day interactive session.

The 18th edition of social media influencers seminar held in Awka at Hilton Leisure Resort and Hotel on the 10th day of March was organised by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs, Army Headquarters in collaboration with Security Affairs Limited with the theme”Imperative of Non-Kinetic Line of Operations in Asymmetric Warfare”.

The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Nigerian Army, Major General M G Kangye in his address noted that the Seminar became necessary having understood that millions of Nigerians rely on social media platforms as their sources of information.

He charged social Media influencers and online journalists to fact-check every information at their disposals before sharing on their various social media handles

“ I called on all you bloggers/online journalists to see the military as partners and desist from reports that will portray Nigerian Army in a bad light.

“These Seminar which started 2018 in Port Harcourt is one of the many ways Nigerian Army interacts with the civil populist in order to forster harmonious and cordial relationship.

“It will interest you to know that this is a continuous event that would enable Nigerian Army receive feedbacks on how to serve Nigerian people better.

“This program provides us necessary and needed opportunity to freely interact, discuss, share ideas and Rob minds particularly towards eradication of fake News. Security, they say is everybody’s business, therefore we acknowledge the fact that you all have a role to play in promotion of peace and security in our dear country,”. Major Kangye insisted.

Later in the Seminar, Brigadier General Sk Usman(RTD) in his entitled”Effects of Social Media Conspiracy, Propaganda and Fake News on Military Operations: Asymmetric Warfare in Perspective” noted that the noted that the media had the potential to enhance or damage the performances of a military campaign.

He pointed that lack of Media and information literacy as a skill exposes one’s vulnerability, hence,has vast implication on safety and Social security.

Meanwhile, General Usman maintains that seminars of this like should hold more often to enable create good relationship between the Armies and Civil populist.

On the Part of another resource person, Senator Jude Iroegbu in his paper remarked that Social media is no longer a new and untested medium of war but is rapidly becoming a pillion on which insurgency groups, revolutions, or anti-government movements are built.

He maintained that Civil Affairs’ greatest tool and contribution to gaining an accurate understanding of the civil environment is when Soldier can utilize his targeted interactions and focuses on the gaps in known information to decipher the civil environment and its effects on military operations.

In his remark, Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu advised Social Social influencers to verify stories before publishing and desist from all forms of fake information.

The Anambra State born General, maintained that Army has the interest of the general public at heart, hence the need for publishing credible information.

In closing remark, Ambassador, Austin Peacemaker, Executive Director, Security Affairs Limitted said he conceived the project to create a seamless platform for military/civil relationship.

Peacemaker noted that since the advent of the interactive session, issues that would have snowballed into protracted face-off between the military and the public were resolved peacefully.

He advised the media to take advantage of the robust platform created to ensure that security reports were handled more professionally as that would further engender peace in the country.

Among those present were, The Director of Civil-military Affairs, General Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo; Col Kayode Ogunsanya, The acting Director information management, Army Headquarters, Department of Civil-military Affairs; Major General Sunday Simeon Araoye; The NUJ chairman of Anambra State Council, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD; representative from all Sister Agencies, stakeholders from different parastatals, Clergymen, Social media influencers, Bloggers, Students and others.

The highpoint of the event was presentation of certificate to all the participants.