A Kano-based Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has introduced competition among users of social media in campaign against hate speeches.
The CITAD Senior Programme Officer, Mr Isah Garba disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.
He said introducing the competition was necessary in order to discourage people from posting hate speeches on the facebook, twitter and others.
“At the end of every month, we intend to come out with those with highest number of anti-hate postings on Facebook and Twitter and award prizes for them so as to motivate other people to join the campaign.
“The competition is opened to all people using our Facebook group ‘Peace Now ‘ https://Web.Facebook.com/group 1411475532403947/ and the hash tag No2Hatespeech in both Facebook posting and tweets on twitter.
According to him, the completion was also part of agency’s renewed effort to promote peaceful coexistence in the country.
“CITAD in its effort to promote peaceful coexistence in the country has designed strategies of identifying, monitoring and countering hate and dangerous speeches online.
“The proliferation of social media couple with the none professional nature of the users of the social media as channels of information dissemination plus the youths dominance of the platform are some of the factors responsible for the overflow dangerous speeches on the platform,”he said.
Garba disclosed that the organization had planned to start monitoring print media organisations targeting some selected Newspapers.
He called on members of the public to join the crusade by partnering with the agency in the campaign against hate speeches.
“Individuals should consider the campaign against hate speech as a social responsibility of every citizen in the country.” he added. (NAN)