Abdullah Bego, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture in Yobe State, on Saturday urged media practitioners to strictly uphold professional ethics and deliver accurate information as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Bego made the call while delivering the opening remarks at the inaugural Yobe Media Summit in Damaturu. The event, themed “Harnessing Digital Tools for Community Impact and Engagement,” drew about 400 participants from conventional media, social media platforms, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and government information units.
He stressed that media professionals play a critical role in shaping public opinion and must avoid misleading the public. Modern technology, he said, should be used to build capacity and promote a peaceful, informed society.
“As we approach the 2027 elections, it is imperative for media practitioners to provide accurate information and engage with the community effectively,” Bego said. He announced plans for a follow-up summit for those who could not attend and thanked Governor Mai Mala Buni for seven years of consistent support to the information sector.
NUJ Chairman Rajab Ismail Mohammed expressed appreciation for the state government’s training initiatives and urged journalists to conduct thorough research before publishing. “Professionalism must be upheld at all times,” he said.
Other speakers, including NTA Damaturu General Manager Ahmed M. Aliyu and the general managers of Yobe State Television and Yobe State Radio Corporation, also praised the Buni administration’s efforts to empower media practitioners.
The summit featured presentations by Dr. Lawan Cheri on the role of mass media and digital tools for community engagement, Dr. Musa Usman on women and youth participation while addressing fake news, hate speech and disinformation, and Professor Sheriff Almihajir on algorithm literacy and responsible content creation on social media.
One participant, Mohammed Abubakar, said the training would significantly improve journalists’ skills in information dissemination.
The summit underscored the need for responsible journalism to foster an informed electorate and peaceful coexistence ahead of the next electoral cycle.
