Accomplished singer/songwriter, Dede Mabiaku has challenged Nigerian youths on the need to understand the value of free space.
Mabiaku gave the advice in Lagos on Tuesday, when entertainment personalities and media influencers made their stance known at the National Conference on Supporting Shrinking Civic Space-A Campaign against the Social Media Bill held in at Kairos Hub, Lekki.
“We are too docile as a people and our docility have been taken to be stupidity, we should wake up and educate ourselves and others. We the people should have the right to express ourselves and what we feel, what is Africa if this generation is not empowered?”
In urging young people to fight for their future, he said: “Don’t waste the opportunities that social media have provided. Influence people to know their rights and fight for their rights.”
Nigerian entertainers drawn from the music and movie sectors of the industry used the conference as a platform to discuss strategies that will help in defeating the proposed social media bill.
The conference was put together by OSIWA a part of the global network of Open Society Foundations and TASCK.
The content of the Social Media Bill was read out to the audience by Nollywood superstar actress, Kate Henshaw. She went further to explain the implications of the proposed bill on the social media scene which has become huge leverage for the industry, especially in terms of curbing piracy.
Renowned rapper, songwriter and record producer M.I Abaga urged entertainers to become part of the civil movement, by joining and supporting the work of civil society organisations.
In his view, Banky W a popular musician, actor, and recent politician, noted that there was too much danger in allowing the social media bill to be passed. “The bill is probably dead now, but let’s put a nail in its coffin.”
He urged participants to take the conversation further by posting it on their social media handles and calling up their representatives in the National Assembly.
“Let’s talk about it, post about it and call our representatives, in 2023, let’s get more good people in the national assembly. A good national assembly will put us on the road of where we need to be as a country. When INEC opens voters registration, please make sure you register to vote, in 2023, let’s dethrone some people,” he said.
