Buni Advises Media Aides To Uphold Truth, Professionalism

Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, has admonished government media aides to uphold truth, credibility and professionalism in public communication.

He warned against misinformation and reckless use of digital platforms.

Buni gave the charge yesterday in Kano when he opened a two-day Media and Strategic Communication Workshop for over 150 media and photography aides serving in his administration.

Represented by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Dr Mohammed Goje, the governor described media aides as an important link between the government, political leadership and the people.

He urged them to communicate government policies and programmes accurately and responsibly, while cautioning against using communication platforms for insults, misinformation, character assassination, ethnic profiling, religious incitement and deliberate spread of falsehood.

“Engage with facts, defend government with evidence, correct misinformation with civility and disagree without insulting,” Buni said.

He added that government achievements should be communicated based on verifiable evidence rather than manufactured claims.

The governor also urged the participants to strengthen grassroots engagement by listening to citizens, explaining government programmes in languages they understand and appropriately engaging traditional and religious institutions, youths and women.

Buni said political communication should contribute to development and peaceful coexistence, particularly as the country approaches another electoral cycle.

“Our democracy must remain a contest of ideas,” he said, urging the media team to help protect the peace, unity and social cohesion of Yobe State.

He said the administration’s philosophy of Continuity, Consolidation and Transformation required consistent and effective communication, particularly in explaining its programmes and achievements to the people.

According to him, the workshop would equip participants with improved skills in strategic communication, crisis communication, fact-checking, digital media management, photography, public engagement and peaceful grassroots mobilisation.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, commended Governor Buni for investing in the continuous capacity development of his media aides.

Bego described the workshop as the second major capacity-building exercise organised for the governor’s media team within one year, saying the initiative reflected the administration’s commitment to strengthening professional communication.

He drew the attention of the participants to the opportunities provided by social media, noting that digital platforms had become powerful tools for public communication as well as viable avenues for entrepreneurship and livelihood.

The commissioner urged the media aides to acquire relevant digital skills and use social media strategically and responsibly to communicate government programmes and engage citizens.

In a goodwill message delivered virtually, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Ustaz Babagana Malam Kyari, urged the participants to exercise caution and responsibility in their use of social media.

Kyari said content published on digital platforms could have significant consequences for individuals, government and society, stressing that every post, comment or message had the potential to either promote public good or cause harm.

He therefore encouraged the media aides to ensure that their online communication promoted peace, unity, responsible citizenship and public understanding.

The workshop, themed “Digital Voices for Better Yobe: Mastering Social Media for Positive Impact,” was organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Yobe State Government for Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants and Technical Assistants on Media and Photography.