Recently updated on June 16th, 2020 at 09:20 pm
Taiwo Jolade has emerged winner in an annual essay competition jointly organized by the Nigerian Press Log and University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The essay competition had as its theme the dangers of publishing fake news on any media platform ahead of the 2019 general elections.
A first prize money of ₦50,000 was presented to the overall winner, Taiwo Jolade, a graduate of Pharmacy from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye serving in Lagos at the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, Yaba, Lagos.
In addition, the winner (Taiwo Jolade) also received a certificate an 6,000 British Pounds worth of scholarship to study at the University of Sussex just as other winners received cash prizes of ₦30,000 and ₦20,000, free internship training in addition to certificates.
Addressing some corps members in Lagos during the presentation of prizes to the winners of the essay competition, Professor Ivor Gaber from the University of Sussex, who spoke on the dangers of fake news said there will be more fake news before Election Day just as additional false news will equally be shared than the real news, saying that the spread of fake news is clickable.
Professor Gaber who identified four categories of fake news as entirely fake, a mix of fake and real, satire and extreme spin, suggested the regularisation of the news broadcast is supposed to be regulated, especially during the election period, saying that the problem with truth is that accurate fact does not equate to the truth.
According to Professor Gaber:
“There are many truths and they require editorial judgments and balance.”
Gaber, who tasked journalists to recognise that there are two sides to an argument, urged professionals from the newsroom to boardroom to develop a personal sense of ethics and responsibility as the moral compass.
Mr. Isime Esene, the Project Coordinator, Writing Games, Nigeria Press Log, disclosed that 150 entries were received from corps members and the university students’ community across the country.
Mr. Isime Esene stated that:
“Most of the articles that came in were of high standards and it was very difficult for the examiners to arrive at the best five. It shows Nigerian youths are very knowledgeable and are original. The write-ups show they did a lot of research.”
Tosin Adebisi, Senior International Officer, University of Sussex, said the Writing Games commenced three years ago as a football competition, saying that it had moved up beyond football to an avenue where young Nigerians can contribute to nation building and development.
He lauded the supportive roles played by the NYSC.
