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Nigerian telecom regulator, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, this week in Abuja, tasked media practitioners on the need for accurate industry knowledge in order to tame fake news and misrepresentations.
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) while addressing members of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) at a two day training organised by the NCC for ICT reporters said the fight against fake news and misinformation is an all stakeholders’ affairs.
The media and NCC have a collaborative duty to ensure that the trends in the industry are accurately reported to the general public, Danbatta said at the training programme with the theme: “Capacity Building for Telecom Reporters”.
His words: “It is our tradition at to ensure that our stakeholders and partners from the media are well equipped with the knowledge and required skill-set to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.”
The regulator, particularly, noted the controversies that surrounded 5G technology and series of unverifiable claims linking the technology to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Danbatta, “the misinformation/misrepresentation of 5G technology has the potential of derailing the launch/implementation of this new technology in our clime.
“Many Nigerians including citizens in more civilized countries were hooked on the notion that the introduction of 5G technology was the reason behind the spread of the novel COVID-19 Pandemic.
“This misconception was even made worse because those saddled with the responsibility of informing, educating and enlightening the average Nigerian telecom consumers were also bereft of the knowledge of this new technology and hitched a ride on the band wagon of doubters.”
To tame fake news, both the regulator and the media have a common objective, he added even as he emphasised the need for constant training of media practitioners.
“This is the reason why training such as this is necessary for members of NITRA who have continued to cover the ICT industry in Nigeria. We will ensure that the NCC maintains this training periodically for our crucial stakeholders in the media to ensure that the information that reaches the average Nigerian is accurate and timely.
“It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that whatever we want to introduce to the Nigerian telecoms space is well understood by Nigerians and all those who make use of our telecoms services.”
5G technology has been launched commercially in Suth Africa and in Nigeria, authorities are firming up a framework for commercial operations.
“According to a recent landmark economy study conducted by Qualcomm, 5G will affect the global economy and drive growth exponentially. 5G’s full economic effect will likely be realized across the globe by 2035, supporting a wide range of industries and potentially enabling up to $13.2 trillion worth of goods and services. This impact will be much greater than the current 4G network,” said Danbatta.
He added: “5G when fully deployed will provide increased speed and bandwidth as well as provide deeper coverage to reach people in rural or challenging locations. In addition, 5G will provide strong security for the various sectors of government and private organizations.
“Due to its sheer scale and scope, the ITU predicts 5G will accelerate the achievements of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) from affordable and clean energy to zero hunger.
“The onus is on all of us here today to make sure that we take this training seriously and take advantage of it to expand on our horizons. This is very necessary so that when we report events or activities relating to the industry, we are able to translate them into a language that the common man will readily understand.”
