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The Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar said the fight against disinformation, misinformation and fake news targeted against Nigeria is one that requires all hands to be on deck.

He disclosed this in Abuja shortly after receiving the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, DICAN award of excellence on strategic security policy formulation for national and global peace.

The Minister was one among few distinguished Nigerians including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, Chairman NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, Founder Air Peace, Allen Onyema, among 14 others recognised for their strategic support to national and global peace efforts.

H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar who applauded DICAN for taking the initiative to organised an event with the theme “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misperceptions, and the Age of Disinformation: The Role of Diplomacy, Intelligence, and Media in Shaping National and Global Stability” described the move by DICAN to support government’s effort in repositioning the largest African nation in the global map as “highly patriotic.”

He noted that the international conference was a timely response to the growing need for informed, cross-sectoral collaboration in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and global interests.

“A lot of fake news is out there distorting the image of our country
and you (DICAN)are bent on correcting, that is very good.

“As Nigerians we have no other country but Nigeria and we have to really correct the bad image that
has been really pushed out there by people who are not patriotic,” he said.

The Minister appreciated the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria for its forward-thinking programmes as well as the award on strategic security policy formulation for national and global conferred on him.

“I thank you for the award and God’s willing we’ll continue to support you to continue to do the good work you are doing.

“Once again thank you very much for this visit and for all you have been doing for our dear country,” the Minister concluded.

Earlier, DICAN Chairman, Idehai Frederick said the association is bent on making a difference as a specialised group of journalists by enhancing the capacity of its members to be able to identify Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) which is a threat to democracy, Disinformation, fake news among others for the seek of accurate and well informed reporting.

He however, called on government at all levels, the diplomatic community, civil society organisations and relevant stakeholders to support the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) through capacity building, resources and tools to actualise its vision of equipping its members with the requisite knowledge and skills to identify and tackle the endemic cancerous monster of disinformation for the overall good of Nigeria, Africa and the World.

He noted that Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN), was the first journalists beat association globally to put together a Diplomatic/Security International Conference that brought together Nigeria’s diplomatic community led by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS H.E. Gautier Mignot, security stakeholders, policy experts, civil society organisations and scholars.

The Chairman and Chief Executive of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) Brigadier General, Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) has lay his weight behind the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in the fight against manipulated and fake news targeted to compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty. this in Abuja after being conferred with DICAN Prestigious International Award for Bravery and Innovation In the Fight Against Illicit Drugs.

The NDLEA boss, represented by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi expressed delight that the agency’s reforms and efforts of fighting Illicit drugs was recognised and rewarded by not just the fourth estate of the realm, but those who are on the global stage.

“The honour and the recognition given to the chairman and chief executive of the agency and the agency as a whole, indicates that what we are doing is not going unnoticed.

“And you see, what makes you happy and wants to do more is when you get the feedback that your efforts is not only making impact, that people appreciate what you are doing.

“Apart from the motivation that the award brings to the individual, and in this case, the leadership, the officers, men and women of the agency, as well as the entirety of the agency itself, it is also a motivation to want to do more.

“And we are glad that this recognition is not just coming from any group, but the fourth estate of the realm, that is journalists, especially those who are on the global stage, those covering the diplomatic community, and that means a lot to us.

“As the chairman would always say, this is not just a recognition coming to him, it’s a recognition coming to the personnel of the agency.

“Actually, they are the ones doing the work on the field, he is providing guidance and leadership,” he said.

The NDLEA Chairman while commending DICAN for taking the bold step in organising the first journalists’ event globally that brought the world together with the theme “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misperceptions, and the Age of Disinformation: The Role of Diplomacy, Intelligence, and Media in Shaping National and Global Stability” promised to support the association in sustaining the initiative for the benefit of the country and the World.

“I would also like to, on behalf of the Chairman and Chief Executive, appreciate your association.

“By the grace of God, we would definitely be looking forward to your next programme, and by then, God’s willing, we will definitely be physically present and well represented, so that we can also encourage and support what you are doing,” he concluded.

Earlier, Chairman, Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Idehai Frederick said the choice of NDLEA for the prestigious award was in recognition of its initiatives in the transnational fight against drugs syndicate, barons as well as checking the Illicit Drugs activities in the country.

He said DICAN being well abreast with global development due to its specialisation and interaction with the diplomatic community is aware that criminal elements are not resting on their oars to derail gains the NDLEA has recorded in their fight against Illicit substances as such, the association is bent on making a difference by enhancing the capacity of its members to be able to sharpen their skills in identifying Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), Disinformation and fake news which are threat to democracy.

He also appealed to relevant stakeholders to support the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) through capacity building to actualise its vision of equipping its members with the requisite knowledge and skills to identify and tackle the global menace noting that Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN), still remains the pioneer journalists beats association globally to put together a Diplomatic/Security International Conference that brought together Nigeria’s diplomatic community led by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS H.E. Gautier Mignot, security stakeholders, policy experts, civil society organisations and among others.

Some high profile Nigerians to bag DICAN Prestigious International Award are former President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, National Security Advise, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Founder Air Peace, Allen Onyema, Egyptian Embassy and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps among 12 others were recognised for their strategic support to national and global peace efforts.

The Chairman, Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) Comrade, IDEHAI Frederick, his Exco and members of the association conferred on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar DICAN’s Grand Patron in an elaborate occasion at the minister’s conference hall in MFA, Abuja.

Courtesy visit by the Executive Council of Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) to the Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflicts Resolution, in Abuja.

Courtesy visit by the Executive Council of Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria DICAN to the Director General, Nigerian Technical Aids Corps, in Abuja.