General News
Why We Need to Build a World Where Influence is a Blessing and Never a Curse
By Tomide Adeyeye
A quick glance through history and you will notice some key people who shaped the world. While many of these historical figures may be long gone, their impact is still very surreal.
For example, the Nazis’ idea of a “national community” shaped according to their racial ideals, was (and still is) a strong narrative used to validate some of the vile actions carried out. Nazis used laws to define and then separate those who belonged to the “national community” from those who did not. And they used the media to influence the thoughts, feelings, and actions of individuals in Germany.
While the Nazis used propaganda as a tool to try to condition the German public to accept, and support, all of their goals (including rearmament and war), the reality remains that these tactics are still being exploited today. Everyday we see people of influence use their powers to sell questionable agenda.
It is estimated that the effects of World War II led to the deaths of over 85 million people, and if the war had not come to an end following the suicide of Adolf hitler, who was the leader of the Nazis, many more would have died.
This is a classic example of how a compelling narrative matched with immense influence can completely change the world, either for good, or bad.
Nowadays conversations around influence are often trivial, focusing on the value of visibility, but at its core, influence resonates deeper than at face value. And many forget that influence is a key make up of how our world, our reality is shaped.
It’s bigger than who influences the clothes we wear or the food we eat. It’s bigger than what we watch or listen to. Influence rationalises the way we think and it is even more powerful because most times you can’t trace its root cause.
A recent study by renowned economist Matthew Gentzkow, showed that fabricated stories favoring Donald Trump were shared a total of 30 million times, nearly quadrupling the number of pro-Hillary Clinton shares leading up to the 2016 US elections. His study also shows that the most widely circulated stories were shared by well meaning Americans who believed these false narratives and became advocates for the message carried in these stories.
It is almost ironic that the leadership of the world was most likely shaped by the impact of false narratives. And this is the reality of the world we live in now. From Washington to Kigali; from London to Beirut. From Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi. We are facing a crisis of misinformation and leadership, engineered by people, platforms and places of strong influence. At a time when the world is in desperate need for great leadership, we are instead drowning in fake news and propaganda.
Look closer to home and you will see another depiction of influence in its devastating form. If you’d stroll through the Rwandan capital, Kigali, today, you’ll encounter well-kept streets, new skyscrapers and business centers — a modern city. And yet, 26 years ago, these same streets throughout the country — were lined with hundreds of thousands of corpses. It has been a quarter century since nearly 1 million people, most of them from the Tutsi minority group, were massacred in Rwanda in the space of a few months.
It took a long time for the massacre to be recognized as a genocide against the Tutsis, and for the world to say that it would “never again” look the other way. You would wonder why something so obvious would be hard to see. Why did it take the world a long time to recognise the genocide?
History often tells the story of how Hutu extremists carried out plans to wipe out the Tutsis. But how was a message of hate able to travel across the country, so much so that one man had no qualms in ending the life of his fellow countryman?
And yet, the world continues to look away every day. Not in Rwanda. But in Yemen, Congo, Myanmar, South Sudan, and even in Nigeria. It’s not always conspicuous mass killings. Instead, many smaller attacks occur on a daily basis, and they’re largely ignored.
It isn’t our fault that we have become pawns in this chess game, but while we may lack the power, we must never underestimate our will. We all have a duty to help people, companies and governments communicate more honestly and responsibly. Governments and organisations need to be more deliberate about what they say, when they say and how they say it. More importantly, we all must be willing to hold them accountable, with an understanding of the impact and influence that we have collectively.
We can’t compel or force people to be and do better. But as we enter the age of influence, there’s no better time to begin discussing and activating the resources that will drive us towards the kind of leadership we so badly need. The kind of direction we need for our lives, for our families, for our nations and for the world.
It’s the reason the Global Day of Influence may be the single most important day in the year. The first ever day of Influence is slated for November 22, 2020, and global media and public relations company, BHM has championed this day as a reminder of not only the influence that we all have but also a reminder of just how impressionable we all are.
Influence, like energy, cannot be destroyed, and we exist in an ecosystem that fosters a culture of influencing and influencers. From the local retailer who got everyone hooked on a new drink because she refused to ice the alternatives, to the local government leader who has convinced the artisans around that Corona Virus is a conspiracy, to even the teachers who speak to hundreds of kids every day and to the slay queens who have millions of followers on Instagram. We are all part of this culture, and we have a duty to not only be influenced, but also to cause the change we want to see in the world with our own influence, regardless of how big or small it may be.
If history is any indicator, then we can expect the world to remain divisive. Humans will always be creatures with varied opinions on a plethora of topics. Hence, the world will ultimately be shaped by the most influential people.
Nelson Mandela had seen it all in his lifetime. He had experienced the hate, the pain, the redemption and the honor of being the man to liberate South-Africa from apartheid.
However his take on racism is somewhat eye-opening. “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Mandela always understood the power of propaganda, the strength of a narrative, and the power of influence to either create or destroy.
The odds may be stacked against us but with a collective resolve, we have a chance to create a world in which the truth is not subjective, a world where propaganda is a thing of the past. It will not be easy, but with each Global Day of Influence, we will lay the foundation of the future that we so desperately need.
And to those who think it is impossible to see a world where influence is only blessing and never a curse. Remember, it was Mandela who once said – “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Guinness Nigeria has officially begun rewarding consumers under its nationwide ‘Open For More’ National Consumer Promotion (NCP), with an impressive ₦17 million in rewards to 107 winners during the campaign’s first live draw held on July 31, 2026.
The inaugural draw instantly transformed the fortunes of consumers across the country, producing seven new millionaires, who each received ₦1 million, alongside 100 additional winners, who each walked away with ₦100,000. The milestone marks the beginning of a series of weekly live draws that will see hundreds more Nigerians rewarded throughout the promotion.
The seven ₦1 million winners are Marcus Barieepie, Ani Valentine Ogochukwu, Okafor Sochima, Taiwo Adebola, Zubair Rukayat, Oluwatobi Femi, and Ebubechukwu Okolo.
The live draw was conducted under the supervision of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to ensure transparency and fairness. Representatives of the commission present included Dr. Olubunmi Otti, Zonal Coordinator, FCCPC Southwest, and Mrs. Abosede Ogundeji, Surveillance and Investigation Officer.
Speaking during the draw, Ramanathan S, representing Guinness, said the promotion reflects the brand’s enduring commitment to celebrating and rewarding the consumers who have supported Guinness over the years.
“For decades, Nigerians have made Guinness a part of their milestones and celebrations. Today, we are proud to give back by putting ₦17 million directly into the hands of 107 consumers in our very first draw. This is only the beginning. Over the coming weeks, many more Nigerians will experience life-changing rewards as we continue to celebrate the loyalty of the people who have made Guinness part of their stories.”
He added that all weekly draws will continue to be streamed live across Guinness Nigeria’s official platforms, enabling consumers to witness the winner-selection process in real time and reinforcing the transparency and credibility of the promotion. He also encouraged eligible consumers nationwide to participate, noting that every valid entry presents another opportunity to win.
The ‘Open For More’ National Consumer Promotion offers consumers the chance to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash prizes for 1,000 winners, and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. Altogether, the promotion will reward consumers with more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes.
To participate, consumers simply need to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, locate the unique code beneath the crown cork or can lid, and enter the code via the designated campaign platform.
With ₦17 million already won in its opening draw, the campaign is off to a remarkable start, reinforcing Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumer loyalty through transparent processes and unforgettable experiences that go beyond the product. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and details of upcoming draws.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with Nigerian universities to promote research, innovation and technology-driven solutions to local challenges.
NITDA, UniAbuja
NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stated this when the management of Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, paid a familiarisation visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Abdullahi said stronger collaboration between NITDA and tertiary institutions was essential to building a robust innovation ecosystem, developing practical skills and positioning Nigeria for technology-driven economic growth.
He stressed the need for increased investment in research, particularly in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
“We need to invest more in in-depth research with universities to build a robust research ecosystem that will help us develop solutions.
“Research will focus on harnessing AI, IoT, blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud technology, among other emerging technologies, to improve our lives and grow our digital economy,” he said.
The DG described universities as critical talent factories required to achieve Nigeria’s digital transformation aspirations.
“NITDA has a vision to make Nigeria a digitally empowered nation. You (UniAbuja) are the talent factory, and we cannot achieve our vision without talented Nigerians.
“The only way to achieve that is by working with institutions like yours. So, we need to build talent,” he said.
Abdullahi also advocated the integration of AI education across disciplines in tertiary institutions, saying students needed practical digital skills to remain relevant in the evolving world of work.
“We can work together to explore ways of introducing AI across the board as a general study course in tertiary institutions.
“Elements of AI should be included in every field of study to equip our students with the hands-on skills for navigating the real world,” he said.
According to him, NITDA is already collaborating with key education sector stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education.
He said the agency was also working to promote digital literacy programmes across all levels of education to ensure that graduates acquire skills relevant to industry requirements.
Earlier, Fawehinmi said the university’s visit was aimed at seeking NITDA’s partnership and support in strengthening digital infrastructure and technology-based training at the institution.
He expressed appreciation for NITDA’s contributions to the Digital Geoscience Centre at the university.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university was willing to collaborate with NITDA on joint research, capacity-building initiatives and innovation programmes capable of contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
“We could go into partnership with you to provide data, collaborative engagements, staff exchanges and joint research hubs, so that we can produce high-level human resources.
“The university is committed to serving as a strategic academic partner to NITDA by providing academic expertise required to advance your national digital transformation initiatives,” he said.
The proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen the link between academic research and industry needs while creating opportunities for technology innovation, skills development and practical solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
A New Mexico court has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million to address the alleged harms caused to young people by its social media platforms.
Meta
The ruling by Judge Bryan Biedscheid came in the second phase of a landmark trial concerning the impact of Meta’s platforms on children and teenagers.
The judge said $420 million of the amount would be dedicated to treatment services for young people, while the remaining funds would support awareness and prevention programmes, screening services and other related costs over the next five years.
The latest financial order comes on top of $375 million in civil penalties awarded against Meta in March after a jury found that the company knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed information about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.
During the second phase of the trial, prosecutors asked the court to order fundamental changes to Meta’s platforms, including measures to reduce addictive features, improve age verification and prevent child sexual exploitation through stronger privacy settings and increased oversight.
The court subsequently ordered Facebook and Instagram to introduce banner notifications and informational screens explaining their safety features, recommended practices and tools for addressing inappropriate comments.
The platforms must also regularly display the information, while an educational campaign in New Mexico will be subject to review by the state.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the ruling sent a clear message that technology companies could be held accountable when their product designs knowingly exposed children to risks.
“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online,” Torrez said in a statement.
Meta said it would appeal the ruling.
“We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content,” the company said.
The company said it remained confident in its record of protecting teenagers online and would continue to defend itself against what it described as claims that misrepresented the facts.
On age verification, the court said federal children’s privacy laws restricted Meta’s ability to apply certain verification tools to children under 13.
The court cited the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which limits the collection of personal information from children under 13.
Rather than imposing a blanket age-verification requirement exclusively on Meta, the judge ordered the company to continue improving its age-assurance tools in New Mexico.
The tools include the use of artificial intelligence to estimate users’ ages based on signals such as their social connections and the type of content they post and consume.
Meta was also ordered to attempt to develop a dedicated model for predicting whether users are under 13 within the next two years.
Additionally, the company must request proof of age from Facebook and Instagram users in New Mexico whom it estimates to be under 13.
Where Meta determines that a user is under 13, or under 18 but cannot determine a specific age, it must treat the user as being under the applicable age threshold until the user verifies their age.
The court further ordered Meta to partner with schools or a child-safety organisation to establish a reporting portal through which school officials can flag users suspected to be under 13.
Meta must also delete personal information it has collected from users under 13 and submit progress reports twice a year detailing its compliance with the court-ordered measures.
The ruling comes as Meta faces thousands of lawsuits from families alleging that children have been harmed by social media use.
The company is also preparing for another trial in California amid the growing litigation over the impact of social media platforms on young people.
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