Prof. Umar Pate, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, has urged young people to become digitally conscious and acquire media literacy skills to guide their use of digital devices.
Pate made the call on Friday while presenting a paper at the 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies of Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola.
the paper was titled “Building Trust Amidst Conflict: Communication, Leadership and the Promise of Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria.”
The vice-chancellor warned against the spread of fake news, hate speech and sensationalism, noting that such practices contribute to violence and other social vices.
“We should not be tools in the hands of our devices; rather, we should use them as tools to positively address our communication challenges,” he said.
Pate noted that digital devices could be disruptive, time- and resource-consuming, alienating and highly addictive if not properly managed.
He stressed the need to use digital platforms for peacebuilding and peaceful co-existence rather than as instruments for destroying communities and the nation.
The vice-chancellor added that building trust amid conflict in a diverse country like Nigeria could not be accidental or instantaneous.
According to him, it must be a deliberate national policy shaped by daily choices in communication, leadership and interpersonal relations.
“For journalists and communicators, this responsibility requires conflict-sensitive reporting, rigorous fact-checking in an era of disinformation, rejection of hate speech and sensationalism, and a deliberate commitment to amplifying the voices of peace-builders rather than purveyors of violence,” he said.