Highlighting the role of Nigeria's Fact-checkers


With Nigeria's election campaigns in full swing ahead the 2023 election, fact-checkers in the country say they are already working together to counter cases of disinformation.

Fact-checkers, a group of individuals across the country say they are joining forces to counter misinformation in the run up to the general election.

The first task each day is searching the internet, television programs and social media for any information that may need a second look. If anything dubious is 
spotted, such is posted to the messaging platform Slack, for fact-checkers to verify information.

FactCheckHub is an Abuja-based organization, one of eight members of a wider fact-checking initiative known as the Nigerian Fact Checkers Coalition.

Together they combine resources and expertise to help tackle misinformation ahead of Nigeria's general election.

The group said it is seeing some successes, but also experiencing pushbacks.

"We have some politicians who are now setting up media teams to attack fact-checks that are published by members of the coalition, to provide alternative facts to some of our evidence based reports, based on their misleading claims." 

Public opinion in the country is often shaped by ethnic and religious backgrounds, especially during elections. And with a population of over 200 million, the ratio of fact-checkers to citizens in Nigeria is very low.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SMAGOGA Renovates Goretti College Administrative Block

Image
Cross section of delegates of SMAGOGA, staff and students of St. Maria Goretti Girls' Grammar School, Benin City, during the commissioning of their administrative block. By Bernadette Idalu Members of St. Maria Goretti Old Girls Association, SMAGOGA, (North American Chapter) on Monday, March 10, 2025, commissioned for use, the administrative block of St. Maria Goretti Girls' Grammar School, Benin City. Addressing elated staff and students of the college, President, SMAGOGA, Lucy Dunmi Ukponmwan, reminded guests and the school community that the renovated administrative building " Is a symbol of hope, a place where dreams are nurtured" hence "It is our collective responsibility that the students feel valued and supported." Global Publicity Secretary, SMAGOGA, Janet Adenrele said the caliber of people who turned up to witness the commissioning showed its value. Reflecting on values and excellence of the school which incidentally has been in existen...
Read more

Panelist calls on Okpebholo to make policies that are of utmost benefit to ordinary people

Image
Panelists- L-R: Prof. Onoho'Omhen Ebhohimhen; Dr. Paddy Iyamu; Prof. Felix Oriakhi; Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole and Barr. Paul Ohonbamu as they tackled questions of stakeholders. By Bernadette Idalu In furtherance of activities marking the hundred days in office of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the New Festival Hall, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, Government House, Benin City, was today, Friday, February 21, 2025, set alight with tantalizing ideas and advocacies, with a call on Mr. Governor, by a panelist, to make policies that impact, align and of utmost benefit to the ordinary people. Taking this stand, Prof. Onoho'Omhen Ebhohimhen from Mewar International University, Abuja, encouraged the governor to impact on policies that are beneficial to the ordinary people to stem the tide of, "People of no ambition giving birth to those of no aspiration." He observed, " When leaders are shaped by the toughness of society, they tend to be more public policy oriented to b...
Read more

Idahosa flags off environmental sanitation exercise in Benin and environs ...Calls on residents to take ownership of exercise as he inspects donated waste management equipment

Image
By Bernadette Idalu The Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the National Museum Ground, Oba Ovonranmwen Kings Square,  Benin City, flagged off Edo State's reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, with a call on residents to implement the sanitation exercise. The deputy governor who thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo for giving directives for the flag off and implementation of the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, called on all Edo state residents clustered within the eighteen local government areas of the state to comply with the laid down environmental sanitation exercise and timeline, operational every last Saturday of the month, from 7-10am. Idahosa in his address, called on all to see the exercise as a clarion call and a civic responsibility to take ownership of "our environment, cherish the land we call our homes, to make for a healthier and more sustainable state that guarantees heal...
Read more