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…… Promotes Peace, Counter Hate Speech and Responsible Online Engagement
By: Alkali Muhammed Musa and Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
The Borno Content Creators and Social Media Influencers Association (BOCCASIA) has reiterated its commitment to fostering peace, unity and sustainable development through responsible digital engagement. This reaffirmation came during the association’s Peace Content Creation and Award Presentation Ceremony held on Sunday at the El-Kanemi Hall, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri.
Speaking at the event, BOCCASIA Chairman, Sunday Williams, said the association was established to unite, educate, enlighten and empower content creators across Borno State. He warned that social media, when misused, can become a breeding ground for misinformation, hate speech and divisive rhetoric.
He stressed that guiding young creators toward responsible and ethical content practices remains central to the association’s mission.
“Our mandate is clear, ensuring unity among content creators and promoting sanity in the digital space. Borno has endured insurgency driven by extremist ideology, and online platforms are among the fastest channels through which such ideologies spread. This makes digital responsibility crucial,” he said.
Williams explained that BOCCASIA consistently trains its members in communication skills, ethical storytelling and the responsible use of their rights without infringing on the dignity or privacy of others. He added that the association has already witnessed significant behavioural change among members, with a growing shift from confrontational content to peace-driven, developmental narratives.
Over the last month, members participated in a Peace Content Challenge, producing dramas, poems and musical pieces promoting unity, reconciliation and social progress. Winners were honoured during the ceremony, alongside individuals and organisations recognized for contributions to peacebuilding and development across Borno.
In his remarks, Dauda Iliya, Special Adviser on Media to the Borno State Governor, commended BOCCASIA for uniting digital creators behind a positive cause.
“It is encouraging to see diverse categories of content creators forming a single front to promote peace and development in Borno State,” he said.
He noted that while social media is often criticised for unregulated and unprofessional use, BOCCASIA’s alignment with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s 25-year development plan represents a welcome transformation.
“After more than 15 years of insurgency, Borno’s focus is now on recovery, development and the resilience of our people. We appreciate their effort in organising this peace summit. The government remains committed to supporting young people producing positive, responsible content,” Iliya added.
Dignitaries at the event included the General Manager of NTA Maiduguri, Mohammed Adam Ndirbitah; the General Manager of BRTV, Ali Mamman Shuwa; veteran journalist Bulama Yerima; Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Dr Abdulmutallib A. Abubakar; Chairman of the Phone Sellers Association, Aliko Das; among other key stakeholders.
The ceremony underscored BOCCASIA’s broader ambition to transform the digital ecosystem in Borno by nurturing content that drives peacebuilding, unity and sustainable societal growth.
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