By Uzair Adam Imam
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has trained 18 covid-19 vaccine champions on identifying, tracking and countering Covid-19 related fake news on social media platforms.
The program tittled “Public Education on COVID-19 Vaccine Project” was aimed at sensitizing the public on the importance of covid19 vaccine and the need to take it with a view to promoting uptake of the vaccine.
Supported by MacArthur Foundation, the centre is reportedly working with 18 partner organizations and social influencers to enlighten the public about the vaccine through various activities and programmes.
However, COVID-19 is a communicable respiratory disease that terrorises the entire wold, leading to the death of number of people and set the nationwide economic back.
The details on the event was in a statement signed Saturday, May 28, 2022, by the coordinator of the campaign, Mal. Hamza Ibrahim.
The statement reads in part: “CITAD received 93 applications from young people who want to be champions and 18 of them were selected from six northern states – Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, Plateau and Kogi State and trained for two days.”
“After their training they embarked on daily campaigns on the vaccine on social media. They submit reports of their campaigns at the end of every month and the reports are shared with panel of judges who review and assess and subsequently select the best three.”
“So, there is competition among the vaccine champions every month and the best three winners are selected and rewarded with gifts. This month, Hadiza Aliyu from Kano emerged in the 1st position and got Hisense refrigerator. Ashafa Abdulkadir from Kaduna and Hauwa Shettima from Bauchi State were the 2nd and 3rd position. They received plasma television and mini laptop.”
It is not known whether there will be another new competition for Covid-19 vaccine champions after this campaign has ended.
