By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace, has sought a partnership with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to fight fake news, misinformation, and to project the country’s interests.
Ndace made this request when some members of the Guild paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that VON is responsible for correcting all negative perceptions and deliberate falsehoods about Nigeria and Africa spread by foreign media.
“Interestingly, the NGE shares a similar role with VON. Like VON, the Guild also has had to contend with other news services. It is important and imperative to take seriously its gatekeeping function.
“VON and the Guild must work together to ensure we carry out our mandates free from ethnocentric or religious bias, but always in the interest of the country.
“We therefore seek to partner with the Guild in this respect, particularly to ensure that we curb the menace of fake news by always being ahead whenever the news breaks.
“And also, to respond timely to counter purveyors of fake news. We would happily serve as a source of contents in areas you determine relevant to your mandate,” Ndace said.
Ndace further explained that his agency will work diligently to ensure every Nigerian feels the impact of the government by tracking the pace of service delivery across all sectors.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Adebayo Boduniri, said the Guild holds periodic meetings, and the visit is not an exception.
“Today, NGE have what I would call a friendly constitution that satisfies the earnings and aspirations of its members.
“Thank you for hosting us and we can assure you that we are not like a political party. We usually don’t have rancorous meetings. Our meetings are friendly,” Boduniri said.
The Deputy President of the NGE, Husseina Akila Bangshika, thanked VON for hosting the Guild and expressed commitment to working together to pass on valuable experiences and knowledge.
“Let me say thank you for receiving us and recognising colleagues you made along the way.
“The whole idea is to harmonise our interests and then go in there and play the game. Showing example to the smaller groups under us because we are like the elite group, the editors are the very senior up there.“