By Daniel Obaje
Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has urged young people to use media responsibly and guard against misinformation, cyberbullying and harmful online narratives.
Ali made the call at the Vision 2035 AI-Athon 2.0 Digital LeadHERship Workshop and Speech Contest organised by the Young Communicators Initiative in Abuja on Thursday.
The programme, held to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child, had the theme: “Building LeadHERS of Today for Leadership of Tomorrow.”
Ali, represented by Ismail Abdulaziz, Director of Special Duties, said young people are growing up in a world shaped by hyper-connectivity, complex algorithms and rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“You do not just use technology, you breathe it. It is the environment in which you learn, socialise and form your world views.
“Think about the immense power in your hands, A single smartphone gives you a world microphone.”
He said media can be weaponised through misinformation, cyberbullying and toxic narratives, adding that generative AI and deepfakes had made it easier to fabricate lies, ruin reputations and spread unverified rumours.
Ali urged the girls to practise critical thinking, digital empathy and authenticity in their online activities.
“Verify information before you amplify it, true leaders value accuracy over speed,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director of Programmes, British Council, Chikodi Onyemerela, urged the girls to pursue higher goals in their education and careers, stressing that leadership opportunities should not be limited by gender.
Onyemerela encouraged the participants to regularly assess their progress and ask themselves what they needed to do to reach the next stage of their education and careers.
He said girls should not allow gender stereotypes to limit their ambitions, insisting that women are capable of occupying leadership positions across different fields.
“There is nothing that a man can do outside of biology that a woman cannot do, there is no role that a man can hold that she cannot hold.
“You must continuously aspire for what is the next level,” he said.
Onyemerela also advised them to remain aspirational and make the most of opportunities to learn, develop themselves and support others.
Earlier, The Founder of the Young Communicators Initiative, Priscilla Anaemena, said Vision 2035 was created to ensure that girls recognised their place in Nigeria’s development.
“Vision 2035 was birthed from the hunger to make sure that the girl-child does not feel lost in a society where she is a major stakeholder.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer the future, it is the present,” she said.
Anaemena urged the participants to identify challenges in their communities and develop practical solutions, adding that they would work on community-based projects using AI and defend their ideas through extemporaneous speeches.
Mary-Alicia Okegbe, Senior Prefect of Bankys Private School, called on the government to implement policies that would empower the girl-child, promote self-expression and create opportunities for girls to showcase their abilities.
She said girls should be given platforms to speak out and contribute meaningfully to society.
“I would like to see more policies that will bring out the girl-child, each and every one of us to have a chance to show ourselves and to be more outspoken.
“Our voice is not something that should be hidden,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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