By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has called on young Nigerians in the digital media space to leverage their platforms as powerful instruments for national progress, urging them to build businesses, create unifying content, and serve as positive catalysts for societal development. The President also stressed the critical importance of verifying information to combat the spread of disinformation.
Speaking on Friday at the Progressives Digital Media Summit, themed ‘Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development,’ President Tinubu lauded the creativity and resilience of Nigeria’s youth. “You 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,” he said.
The President encouraged them to use their platforms to foster unity, not division, and to build businesses that create employment. He also warned against disinformation and cyber threats. “As your influence grows, so must our collective sense of purpose and responsibility,” he added.
President Tinubu affirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting digital innovation through the National Digital Innovation Fund and policies designed to foster a thriving startup ecosystem.
Earlier, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, praised digital media practitioners for their positive projection of Nigeria on the global stage, describing them as the “vanguard of a reborn Nigeria.”
In his goodwill message, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, highlighted the dual nature of social media as both a crucial battleground for shaping political outcomes and a chaotic, often unregulated public square. He noted that misinformation spreads significantly faster than official corrections and expressed optimism that the summit would address these challenges.
Segun Dada, the summit’s convener and Special Assistant to the President on New Media, stressed the need to harness digital media’s power for the good of Nigeria while managing risks like privacy concerns and threats to social cohesion.