By Genesis Ogiri
LAGOS — Prof. Chinedu Ogwus has called for deliberate and strategic regulation of Nigeria’s social media space, describing it as a vital instrument for nation building and global image management, while warning that the unchecked use of digital platforms is increasingly undermining the country’s international reputation.
Ogwus further stressed that effective regulation must deliberately address critical areas of abuse within the digital space, including the spread of hate speech, the rising incidence of cyber fraud, and the unchecked circulation of nudity and other obscene materials that undermine societal values. He also decried the frequent online exportation of images depicting filthy, degraded, or misrepresented urban environments, noting that such content often presents a distorted narrative of Nigeria to the international community.
The Ambassador made the call during the 37 Million Digital Literacy Mega Launch Programme organised by Global Clusters, held in Lagos, where key stakeholders converged to deliberate on the role of social media in nation building, digital inclusion, responsible online engagement, and the future of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Ogwus observed that social media has evolved into a powerful force shaping public opinion, governance discourse, and international narratives. However, he lamented that many of the images and stories exported from Nigeria through digital platforms fail to reflect the nation’s true identity, core values, and developmental progress, often amplifying negativity, misinformation, and unverified content.
According to him, this misuse has overshadowed Nigeria’s positive achievements and potential, despite the platform’s capacity to drive civic participation, innovation, youth empowerment, and economic growth when deployed responsibly.
He expressed concern that some social media actors have neglected the responsibility of projecting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, improving environmental initiatives, and growing economic opportunities to the global audience, a failure he said has reinforced harmful stereotypes and weakened the country’s national image abroad.
The Professor charged social media users to consciously publish content that uplifts, edifies, and promotes the nation’s image, rather than disseminating nudity, obscenity, hate-driven narratives, and other degrading materials that erode societal values and moral standards.
He further emphasized that digital literacy must go beyond access and technical competence, arguing that it should also encompass ethical responsibility, critical thinking, national consciousness, and content accountability in order to nurture digitally responsible citizens.
Ogwus clarified that regulation, when properly designed and transparently implemented, should not be misconstrued as censorship or an attack on freedom of expression, but rather as a protective framework aimed at safeguarding the digital space from abuse while preserving democratic engagement, creativity, innovation, and national cohesion.
According to him, a well-regulated, ethically driven, and inclusive social media environment will contribute meaningfully to national development, social unity, and the restoration of Nigeria’s credibility and respect in the international community.