“Union vows to safeguard media integrity and expose impostors across Ogun-East.”
The Ogun-East Independent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has inaugurated a task force dedicated to combating fake news and curbing quack journalism across the region.
Led by Comrade Oluseun Oduneye, Chairman of the Chapel, the initiative was unveiled in line with directives from the NUJ State Council, following the swearing-in of the Chapel’s executive members.
The task force will be headed by the Chapel’s Treasurer, Comrade Dairo Johnson, supported by Comrade Ademola Ogunlana (Assistant Secretary) and Mr. Damilare Majekodunmi.
According to the Chapel, the rise of misinformation—often fueled by bloggers and self-styled “content creators” who present themselves as journalists—poses a serious threat to the profession and society at large.
“The unchecked spread of fake news erodes public trust in the media, undermines democracy, stirs social unrest, fuels political conflicts, and ultimately harms society,” the statement read.
The Chapel further expressed alarm over the growing number of untrained individuals acting as media aides to political office holders and organizations, insisting that such practices damage the credibility of professional journalism.
To address this, the Chapel pledged to intensify its efforts in exposing quacks while safeguarding the integrity of journalism in the Ogun-East axis. It also urged government agencies, corporate bodies, and the general public to engage only accredited journalists for official media coverage. For proper verification, organizations were advised to liaise directly with the Chapel’s Secretary.
As part of its engagement strategy, the task force and executive members will pay courtesy visits to Police Area Commands in Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, seeking collaboration to stem the tide of misinformation across Ijebu and Remo.
In addition, the Chapel announced the inauguration of a Board of Elders, composed of veteran journalists recognized for their longstanding contributions to the profession.
The NUJ Ogun-East Independent Chapel called on the public to support its mission to uphold ethical journalism and curb the spread of fake news in the collective interest of society.
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