Nigerian Youth Called Upon To Confront Hate Speech

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In Abuja, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), has urged Nigerian youths to take a stand against hate speech and damaging narratives. Addressing participants at a two-day training on combating hate speech, Dr. Ochogwu emphasized the critical role of youth empowerment and responsible use of technology.

He highlighted various factors contributing to the spread of hate speech and misinformation in Nigeria, including self-interest, ineffective policies, low media literacy, and institutional weaknesses in verifying information integrity both online and offline.

Dr. Ochogwu referred to the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, launched by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in June 2019, which aims to empower people, especially youth, to reject and combat hate speech, fake news, and other negative social media influences.

Encouraging participants to engage actively with the training materials, Dr. Ochogwu emphasized the importance of deploying the acquired skills for responsible information dissemination, promoting peace, stability, and progress in Nigeria.

The event, titled “Together for Peace: Combating Hate Speech Online and Offline,” was organized in collaboration with Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, LEAP Africa, and Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, drawing over 20 young participants from the Federal Capital Territory’s six Area Councils.