00:00Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tanubu has called on online content creators to create jobs for others, saying, the digital media is now a central driver of economic growth, while emphasizing that the youths are no longer waiting to be invited into the future, that, they are already building the future.
00:19Details of the president's statement as made available in a news release signed by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga on Friday reads verbatim below.
00:30President Bola Ahmed Tanubu on Friday called on young Nigerians active in the digital media space to harness their platforms as instruments of national progress.
00:40He urged them to build businesses that create employment, produce content that reflects unifying values, and serve as positive catalysts for societal development.
00:49He emphasized the critical importance of verifying information before amplifying it.
00:55At the opening of the Progressive's Digital Media Summit, themed, unveiling the critical role of new media in national development, President Tanubu said,
01:04Your generation has recognized this moment. You are using digital tools to innovate, educate, and demand accountability. But as your influence grows, so must our collective sense of purpose and responsibility.
01:18I urge you to continue using digital platforms to advance our nation's progress. Build businesses that employ others. Create content that uplifts and unites. Use your influence to foster unity, not division.
01:33He commended the creativity and resilience of Nigeria's youth as he described digital media as a driving force of economic and social transformation.
01:43It is no longer merely an accessory to life, he said. From developing innovative platforms to building vibrant online communities, you are demonstrating the determination that is redefining what is possible for this country.
01:58You are not waiting for the future, you are building it. Digital media is now a central driver of economic growth, civic engagement, and social change.
02:07It broadens representation for those previously unheard. The president said his administration is committed to supporting digital innovation through the National Digital Innovation Fund and policies that promote a thriving startup ecosystem.
02:23However, he warned practitioners to remain vigilant against disinformation and cyber threats.
02:28Chief of staff to the president, Femi Bajabiamila, praised digital media practitioners who have consistently stood up for Nigeria and projected the nation positively on the global stage.
02:40You are the vanguard of a reborn Nigeria, determined to reach for the stars.
02:46Under President Tanubu's leadership, our nation has begun its long-delayed march toward greatness.
02:52The road may be challenging, but it is necessary, he stated.
02:56In a goodwill message, the special advisor to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, highlighted the significance of the summit.
03:06He noted that lessons from recent elections in countries like the US and Germany underscore how digital media have become crucial battlegrounds, beyond mere entertainment, for shaping poll outcomes.
03:18However, social media is not a fair battlegrounds.
03:19However, social media is not a fair battleground.
03:23As a public square, it is often chaotic and unregulated.
03:27Users frequently disregard rules.
03:29Divisive content is rampant.
03:31Leapfakes and eye-generated content are increasingly used against political opponents.
03:36Posts are driven by clicks, not truth or accuracy.
03:40Misinformation spreads five times faster than official corrections.
03:43Onanuga observed, he expressed optimism that the summit would address these challenges, focusing on strategies to combat fake news and misinformation.
03:54The summit convener, Shagan Dada, special assistant to the president on new media, emphasized that in less than a decade, digital media has evolved from a tool of personal connection into a powerful engine for communication, innovation, and influence.
04:10He stressed the importance of harnessing this force for the good of Nigeria while managing inherent risks such as privacy concerns and threats to social cohesion.
04:20The theme of this gathering, unveiling the central role of new media in national development, captures the spirit of our times and that of our nation.
04:48Across Nigeria, we are witnessing a surge of creativity and ambition as young Nigerians harness digital media to share their voices and shape our society.
05:07From developing new platform to building vibrant online communities, you are demonstrating ingenuity and a commitment to progress that is defining what is possible for this country.
05:28You are that possibility.
05:29You are not waiting to be invited into the future.
05:30You are building the future.
05:31You are building the future.
05:32New media is no longer an accessory to our national life.
05:35It is first becoming a central driver of economic growth.
05:36civic engagement and social change.
05:37It is creating opportunities.
05:38You are building the future.
05:43You are building the future.
05:44You are building the future.
05:45You are building the future.
05:46New media is no longer an accessory to our national life.
05:50It is first becoming a central driver of economic growth.
05:59based on civic engagement and social change.
06:03It is creating opportunities for millions of young people.
06:11Reducing conventional barriers to participation in politics.
06:12barriers to participation in politics, and enabling broader representation of those who
06:21previously have gone on hard. Your generation has understood this moment. We are using digital
06:33tools to innovate, to educate, and to demand accountability. But as this influence grows,
06:44so too must our collective sense of purpose and responsibility. I urge you to continue
06:54using digital platforms as instrument of national progress. But you should build business that
07:05employ others. Create content that uplift those around you. Use your influence to foster unity
07:16and not division.
07:26We are in a world where this information spreads easily. Verify before you amplify, please. Let
07:37the digital space reflect the value that binds us together as a people, honestly, compassionate,
07:48disciplined, and patriotism. Patriotism is not about slogans and political theater. It is about
07:59what we contribute to the common good. Every gap and every app you design, every story you
08:12tell, every brand you build. It's a statement to the world about who we are and what we stand
08:23for as a nation. This administration understands the importance of this new frontier. That is why we are
08:37making strategic investments in digital infrastructure and broadband expansion. We are committed to ensuring
08:49that access to the internet that access to the internet is not a privilege for the view, but a right enjoyed by all Nigerians.
09:06We are also supporting innovation through the National Digital Innovation Fund and nurturing the startup ecosystem
09:18with policies that promote growth and reduce unnecessary regulation. We will not lose focus on
09:28cyber security. Every Nigerian has a right to be protected in both the physical and digital domains.
09:39And you are the young people of this country. You remain most important, the most important investment. You are of a nation. Your ideas, your energy, and your commitment to national development are among Nigerians' greatest
10:07assets.
10:14So I challenge you to use your platforms, not only for self-expression, anger, or retaliation, but for problem-solving, to build solutions that address our nation's needs,
10:35to mentor others as we grow, and to promote digital literacy and accountability in every corner of our society.
10:42Let your leadership be defined by integrity. Let your digital footprint reflect the best of our nation. Let your actions speak of a generation that did not wait for permission of our nation.
10:49Let your actions speak of a generation that did not wait for permission of our nation.
10:56step forward with your courage and with clarity.
11:03Nigeria's path to prosperity will be shaped by many forces. Make yours inclusive.
11:10and relevant.
11:11But none will be more positive than the choices of our nation.
11:12For permission to lead.
11:13For permission to lead.
11:14Step forward with your courage and with clarity.
11:18Nigeria's path to prosperity will be shaped by many forces. Make yours inclusive.
11:24And relevant.
11:25But none will be more positive than the choices made by those who dare to imagine and who possesses the skill to build.
11:49Just imagine the back horns. How great female footballers.
11:56They were down 2-0. Before halftime. Ordinary soul. Unless one would have given up.
12:16But they came up with perseverance. Determination. And consistency.
12:23To bring the glory to the entire nation.
12:33So let us move forward together. Like they did.
12:38Let your creativity continue to inspire.
12:43Let your enterprise create opportunity. And yet your example show this generation is not only ready for the future.
12:56But ready to lead the future.
13:02I pray. May your work be guided by wisdom. Many of your voices will lift others. And may your generation be remembered.
13:17Not just for its potential. For the full achievements of the reality of our time. God bless you all.
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