An ex-fellow of DUBAWA, Dare Akogun, has trained journalists in Edo state on Fact-checking and verification tools.
Mr Akogun is a fact-checking fellow of the 2021 Kwame Karikari fellowship, a programme of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
The training which is a first of its kind in the state focused on equipping journalists with the skill and tools to counter misinformation ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
Mr Akogun said people’s biases sometimes influence how they gather and interpret information before sharing.
“We are in an era where all manner of information is accessible on social media, hence the need for journalists to become educated, skilled and equipped in the act of fact-checking,” he said.
“This training will enable journalists to independently confirm information in their various positions before sharing with others to debunk or disregard them because the advent of social media has heightened the negative impact of fake news and misinformation,” he added.
The Edo State NUJ Chairman, Festus Alenkhe, in his opening speech, commended the leadership of the chapel for its ingenuity in organising the workshop at this critical point in the nation, where fake news and misinformation have become rampant.
He described the training as timely as it would arm members with needed skills to debunk misinformation that always characterises election periods in the country.
The chairperson of the NUJ correspondent chapel, Nefishetu Yakubu, said the chapel’s intent was to build the capacity of members to be able to counter misinformation that is pervasive, especially on social media platforms.
She said, “There is no doubt that opportunities are now abundant in technological innovations, hence these can be used to verify and counter fake news, during the electoral process.
“Studies have shown that in recent times, technologies have helped to unravel the truth behind some controversial issues in Nigeria’s political space.
“The training will not only help in promoting credible information dissemination in Kwara state and Nigeria as a whole but also equip media practitioners in carrying out their core mandate of giving the right information to the people.
This training was part of a 3-day capacity-building workshop organised by the correspondent chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Edo state.
