Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has emphasized on the need for a more strategic and proactive approach to communication, among Nigerian journalists and media organizations towards enhancing national security and foreign diplomacy.
The Foreign Affairs Minister stated this while declaring open the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria’s (DICAN), maiden International Conference on Diplomacy and Security.
He said investment in strategic communication would strengthen Nigeria’s image internationally, as well as foster trust among citizens, development partners, and the diplomatic community.
“The media traditional and digital shapes perception before policy is understood. That is why Nigeria has adopted a proactive public diplomacy approach, engaging international media platforms and investing in narrative sovereignty. We must move from reactive communication to strategic communication, projecting not only our policies but also our values, vision, and voice”, he said
Speaking on the theme of the conference “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy in an Era of Global Insecurity, Strategic Misperceptions, and Disinformation, the Foreign Affairs Minister, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Mr. Alkassim Abdulkadir, while cautioning against the growing threat of disinformation and propaganda, explained that reactive media responses are no longer sufficient in an era where disinformation and geopolitical propaganda shape global narratives.
“Nigeria remains committed to supporting all meaningful initiatives that seek to combat disinformation and enhance the integrity of the information space. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes the crucial role of the media in shaping perceptions and advancing the country’s diplomatic objectives. That is why we are open to continued partnership with DICAN to promote professionalism, factual reporting, and capacity building for diplomatic correspondents.”, he noted
Also speaking the EU Ambassador to Nigerian and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, stressed on the critical role traditional media play in fighting fake news and misinformation.
“Traditional media and journalists are finding a new role in a world where we thought that perhaps they would disappear and be replaced by many individuals reporting on social networks. In fact, we see that traditional media are more necessary than ever, because they are here to help us make the distinction between real news and fake news. And also, fact-checking platforms are doing this, to debunk this fake news. And this is very important, because it’s a threat to the citizens, and it’s a threat to the stability of countries which can be destabilised by this fake news instigated by rogue players internationally”. Gautier said.
On his part, President of DICAN, Mr. Idehai Frederick, said the event was organized in response to the growing need for journalists covering diplomatic and security beats to be adequately equipped to report accurately and responsibly in an increasingly complex global environment.
“Diplomatic correspondents must become not just messengers, but interpreters of policy, defenders of truth, and architects of public diplomacy. I hereby call for institutionalised engagement between media professionals, diplomats, and security stakeholders to create a joint fact-checking task force, initiate cross-border media dialogues, and build reportorial resilience in the face of foreign interference and digital manipulation”, he noted
According to the Registrar General Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria, Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, the pen has the power to mar or make a nation therefore it should be used in bringing positive change.
“There is a very popular saying, the phrase, the pen is mightier than the sword. This particular proverb emphasises the power of words and communication over violence. It suggests that writing and ideas can be more influential and effective in bringing about change than physical force or warfare. The pen is mightier than the sword. When I sit back and think about that, are we beginning to use the pen as a sword in Nigeria and the world today? This conference is important because we need to remind ourselves that the pen is mightier than the sword. We need to remind ourselves that in no circumstance must the pen be used as a sword”, he stressed.
Also, on her part, the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was represented by Mr. Abdulrahman Balogun, highlighted the need for accurate diaspora communication and encouraged DICAN to help sensitise Nigerians abroad on the commission’s mandate.
Representing the Chief of Defense Staff, Rear Admiral I.M. Haruna emphasised the Nigerian Armed Forces’ readiness to collaborate with journalists to mitigate disinformation in conflict reporting, particularly in theatres of counterinsurgency and trans border crime.
The DICAN conference also featured paper presentations and high-level panel discussions on topics ranging from global conflict trends to the role of diplomacy in mitigating hybrid threats.
The conference which brought together key stakeholders from the diplomatic community, security sector, academia, and the media to discuss global security threats, strategic diplomacy, and the growing challenge of disinformation in the digital age, ended with a call for the institutionalization of media-diplomatic engagement platforms, joint trainings, and a fact-checking task force to address the manipulation of information threatening national and international peace.
Olusola Akintonde