The commissioner made the appeal while receiving the newly elected executive members of the Kano State Online Chapel during a courtesy visit to his office.
Congratulating the new executives for uniting under a single professional umbrella, Waiya tasked them with developing strategies to enlighten the public on the differences between the two platforms.
Comrade Waiya emphasized that as a professional body, they are expected to uphold ethics and decorum in conducting their duties. “When you do something, do it professionally,” Waiya said.
The commissioner lamented the rise of citizen journalists, stating, “There are no professional ethics or skills. You can find someone with just a ₦10,000 phone and ₦200 data claiming to be a journalist.” He stressed the urgent need for public awareness campaigns to help people distinguish between professional journalists and social media influencers.
He assured the chapel of the state government’s commitment to collaborating with online media in disseminating government policies and programs for the benefit of citizens.
Additionally, he reaffirmed the ministry’s readiness to include the chapel in training programs aimed at enhancing members’ capacity, noting that the ministry had already conducted a capacity-building workshop for 2000 social media influencers at Bayero University Kano to improve their services.
The commissioner expressed optimism that Kano State become a trailblazer in establishing the Online Media Chapel in Northern Nigeria. “The Online Chapel is my baby, and it is a priority in our administration,” he maintained.
Earlier in his remarks, the newly elected Chairman of the Kano Online Chapel, Comrade Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo, stated that the visit was to formally introduce the new executives and express gratitude for the commissioner’s support in actualizing the chapel’s establishment.
Dangambo pledged the chapel’s commitment to working closely with the ministry and the state government to keep the public informed about government initiatives. He also appealed for government support in addressing the challenges faced by the pioneering association.
