The Federal Government has honoured the Executive Chairman of Miden Systems Limited, Dr Brendan Innocent Usoro, with an award for company governance and enterprise integrity at a summit organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) in Abuja.
Usoro obtained the Excellence in Corporate Governance and Business Integrity Award on Wednesday on the NPC National Summit on Curbing Fake News and Misinformation within the Nigerian Media Space, held at NICON Luxury Hotel.
Speaking on the occasion, Usoro warned that misinformation posed dangers to nationwide safety, democratic stability, enterprise confidence and peaceable coexistence, notably forward of the 2027 basic elections.
He expressed concern over using synthetic intelligence to provide fabricated audio recordings, manipulate movies and flow into deceptive stories, saying the pattern had made it more and more tough for the general public to tell apart credible info from falsehoods.
According to him, misinformation was more and more getting used to undermine political opponents, harm companies and create rigidity in society.
“People use false information to de-market their political opponents, competitors’ products and services, as well as create tension in the polity,” he stated.
Usoro referred to as for coordinated motion by authorities establishments, media organisations, expertise corporations and residents to deal with the unfold of false info.
He urged Nigerians to confirm stories earlier than sharing them on social media and advisable unbiased fact-checking organisations, together with Dubawa, as sources for checking the authenticity of claims.
He additionally referred to as for improved coaching for journalists and fact-checkers and wider entry to synthetic intelligence-assisted verification instruments.
The Miden Systems chairman urged expertise corporations and regulatory companies, together with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to strengthen collaboration towards malicious artificial media.
He, nevertheless, cautioned that efforts to curb misinformation mustn’t undermine press freedom, freedom of expression or respectable criticism.
On the influence of misinformation on companies, Usoro stated Miden Systems had skilled what he described because the damaging results of false info. He alleged that the corporate and its executives had been focused following a monetary dispute with a business financial institution.
Usoro stated Miden Systems was established in 1997 and had expanded from security and gear upkeep companies into marine companies, logistics, and offshore and onshore facility upgrades, upkeep and administration.
He stated the corporate had undertaken contracts within the oil and fuel business and offered companies to organisations together with Renaissance Africa Energy Company, ExxonMobil, Nigeria LNG Limited, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Port Harcourt Refinery Company, Addax Petroleum and Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
Expressing appreciation for the award, Usoro reaffirmed the corporate’s dedication to moral conduct, transparency and integrity in its enterprise dealings.
“We remain committed to ethical, honest and transparent business transactions at all levels of our operations,” he stated.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NPC, Dr Dili Ezughah, stated the summit was organised to strengthen the media ecosystem, promote accountable journalism and enhance media professionals’ capability to fight misinformation.
Ezughah stated the initiative was notably essential as Nigeria approaches the 2027 basic elections, warning that faux information and propaganda may undermine democratic processes.
He stated the summit introduced collectively media practitioners, policymakers, authorities officers, company executives, safety companies and different stakeholders to debate sensible methods to handle misinformation.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, represented by his Special Adviser on Intelligence, Musa Likita, additionally described misinformation as a risk to nationwide safety, democratic governance and peaceable coexistence.
Musa stated fabricated stories, manipulated images, misleading audio recordings and deceptive movies may provoke hostility, unfold confusion and weaken public confidence in establishments.
He referred to as for cooperation amongst authorities companies, media organisations and residents to curb the unfold of false info.
Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by Dr Haruna Suleiman, referred to as on media organisations to strengthen editorial oversight, confirm sources and proper errors promptly.
Idris additionally urged expertise corporations to handle the misuse of their platforms and referred to as for better media and data literacy in colleges, universities and communities.
Other award recipients included Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris, Barrister Obioma Success Akagburuonye, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and Federal Commissioner for Salaries, Income and Wages Dr Yakubu Barde.
The summit ended with requires stronger collaboration amongst authorities establishments, media organisations, companies and residents to advertise credible info, shield reputations and strengthen public belief whereas safeguarding press freedom.
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