‘Nigeria needs moral entrepreneurs to combat information pollution during elections’

IN the age of rapid information dissemination, the menace of fake news, mis-information, and disinformation has become a shadow that looms over the integrity of democratic processes.

This and other insights emerged from a policy brief which shed light on a unique group of individuals who are emerging as the defenders of truth and ethical conduct during Nigeria’s election campaigns: the moral entre-preneurs.

These moral entrepreneurs, the brief said, were a diverse mix of academics, NGOs, CSOs, traditional rulers, and religious leaders, are spearheading the fight against what is referred to as
‘information pollution’ during election campaigns. They are the voices championing the adherence to legal rules and election campaign guidelines to maintain a wholesome campaign environment.

Authored by Lasisi Mutiu lyanda, a Nigerian master’s student in the Critical Media Studies programme at the Department of Media Communications, National Research University (HSE) in Moscow, Russia, the policy brief delves into the heart of this battle against information pollution.

The brief, according to Lasisi draws its insights from a comprehensive study conducted as part of his professional practical training at the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Philology, RUDN University, Moscow, that employed both qualitative and quantitative content analyses, harnessing data from reputable Nigerian newspapers such as The Punch, The Nation, Daily Trust, Vanguard, Daily Post, and the Nigerian Tribune, which reported the 2023 presidential election campaigns between September 2022 and February 2023.

The study was supervised by Dr Mustapha Muhammed Jamiu of the Department of Mass Communication at the RUDN University.

Mr Lasisi found that moral entrepreneurs emerged as a powerful force in challenging unethical behaviours and promoting a higher standard of conduct during the campaign period. This breed of individuals can be classified into distinct categories: political, state, and non-state actors. The study highlights a significant emphasis on ‘rule enforcement entrepreneurs, who advocate for the strict adherence to existing laws and regulations to counteract the spread of false in-formation.

The study reveals that the moral entrepreneurs’ influence reaches its zenith when they challenge and moderate the behaviour of political actors and their supporters.

Their proactive approach in combating deviant behaviors echoes the sentiments expressed by Becker in 1963 about the deployment of moral lenses by these entre-preneurs.

Fact-checking and awareness emerge as the twin pillars on which moral entrepreneurs build their battle against information pollution. Their clarion call for fact-checking and the propagation of accurate information is aimed at political actors, social media influen-cers, and mainstream media.

By pushing for responsible reporting and fact-checking practices, these moral entrepreneurs lay the foundation for a more reliable information landscape during election campaigns.

What sets the moral entrepreneurs apart is their sustained engagement throughout the entirety of the campaign period. The study underscores the need for continuous collaboration with media practitioners, journalists, and stakeholders. Media practitioners and journalists are called upon to collaborate closely with moral entrepreneurs to prioritize fact-checking and ensure accurate information reaches the public. Political parties, candidates, and politicians are urged to assume responsibility for their disseminated information and refrain from spreading false narratives.

The electoral body and government agencies are nudged to step into their roles more actively, enforcing laws and regulations that counter the creation and spread of information pollu-tion. Finally, supporters and voters are reminded of their crucial role in this battle – to critically evaluate and factcheck information they en-counter, thus weakening the impact of misinformation and disinformation.