By Goodnews Eminue
No fewer than 35 media professionals and civil society actors from Nigeria’s South-South region have undergone specialised training on combating disinformation, fake news, and hate speech ahead of elections, as part of efforts to safeguard electoral integrity and prevent violence.
The three-day workshop, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from February 23 to 25, was organised under the European Union-backed ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project.
Speaking at the opening session, FIAP/EPSG Coordinator, Maria Belen Alvaro Sanchez, welcomed participants and emphasised the critical role of the media and civil society in promoting credible information during electoral processes. Also speaking, Technical Adviser on Media and CSOs under EPSG/FIAP, Joseph Osuigwe, outlined the workshop’s objectives, agenda, and expected outcomes.
Participants were trained on key concepts including disinformation, misinformation, fake news, and hate speech within electoral contexts, with sessions focusing on fact-checking tools, verification techniques, and responsible information dissemination. The sessions were facilitated by Lois Ugbede.
A major outcome of the workshop was the development of the #CheckBeforeYouPost campaign, designed to promote ethical information sharing and curb the spread of false narratives during elections.
In another session, Silas Jonathan of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development led discussions on the psychological, linguistic, and visual strategies used in disinformation. The session featured practical group exercises on identifying fake news patterns, ethical journalism, and conflict-sensitive reporting.
Digital safety and regulatory frameworks were also addressed by Adijat Kareem of Dataphyte Foundation, who guided participants through digital risk mapping and online security practices for media and civil society organisations.
Participants were urged to actively promote the #CheckBeforeYouPost campaign within their communities, particularly during election periods, to help reduce misinformation and support peaceful democratic processes. Certificates were presented at the end of the training.
The workshop was organised by Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP) as part of the EPSG Project, implemented in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The EPSG Project, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aims to strengthen peace, security, and governance across West Africa.
Organisers noted that the training responds to the growing spread of false information and inflammatory content across social media and traditional platforms, which have historically contributed to voter suppression, identity-based tensions, and electoral violence in Nigeria.
They added that equipping journalists and CSOs with verification skills and ethical reporting standards remains critical to ensuring credible elections and strengthening democratic governance in the region.
