The Nigerian Government has been called upon to establish a National Coronavirus Information Centre to be run by professionals to counter the growing trend of fake news being peddled on social media.
Professors of Development Communication, Cinematography, and Theatre Arts including John Sani Illah, Augustine Enahoro and Victor Dugga made the call at the 12th year anniversary of the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Jos in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria.
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It was a gathering of experts in Mass Communication including the Professors and their former students who are now practitioners in different fields of the industry.
Beyond addressing issues affecting their Department and the University, these professionals are concerned about the fake news and rumours that they said would affect the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
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They said there should be a National Coronavirus Information Centre to provide minute-by-minute updates and share authentic information with the mainstream and on social media that will be available to Nigerians.
While expressing optimism that the world will come out of the Coronavirus pandemic, the organisers who scaled down the anniversary programme honoured some persons who have done the Department proud including the new Group Head of Digital and New Media of DAAR News Services, Terverr Tyav, who was recognised for investigative journalism.
