Fake news threat to Nigeria’s peace, stability, says Kaduna commissioner
Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, has warned that the growing spread of fake news and false narratives poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s
Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, has warned that the growing spread of fake news and false narratives poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s peace and stability.
She said misinformation and disinformation have continued to undermine social cohesion, fuel distrust, and ignite conflicts across communities.
Speaking at a workshop organised by Alkalanci for female Islamic scholars and teachers in Kaduna, the commissioner lamented that false information had, in the past, triggered communal and ethno-religious violence in the state and beyond.
She stressed that the destructive impact of fake news makes it imperative for stakeholders to take deliberate steps to combat the menace.
According to her, “fake news and false narratives are dangerous to the peace and stability of our society,” warning that unchecked misinformation could escalate tensions and lead to avoidable crises.
The commissioner noted that in an era of rapid information dissemination, particularly through social media, the risks associated with unverified content have become more pronounced.
She commended Alkalanci for initiating the training, describing it as timely and strategic, especially as it targets religious leaders with strong influence on public opinion.
Salisu said female preachers and teachers occupy a unique position in shaping values and guiding communities, making their involvement critical in the fight against misinformation.
She urged participants to be attentive, खुले-minded and committed to applying the knowledge gained to educate others within their circles.
The workshop, a two-day capacity-building programme, focused on media and information literacy as a tool for building resilient communities against false narratives.
In her welcome remarks, Alkalanci’s Program Manager, Bamas Victoria, said the initiative was aimed at equipping participants with practical skills to identify and counter misinformation.
She described the training as a women-driven effort designed to empower female scholars, teachers and community leaders to serve as defenders of truth.
Victoria added that the programme forms part of a broader intervention targeting misinformation in the Hausa language space across Nigeria and the Sahel.
She noted that similar engagements had been successfully held in Kano, Sokoto, Gombe and Maradi in Niger Republic, yielding positive outcomes.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Mata Media, Fauziyah Kabir Tukur, said the training would help participants understand the dangers of false narratives and develop the capacity to detect misleading content, especially in sensitive areas such as religion, politics and health.
