By Mutalib Jibril
An 18-month initiative aimed at countering disinformation and strengthening democratic resilience in Northwestern Nigeria was launched yesterday in Sokoto State by the European Union (EU) and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
The programme, titled Countering Disinformation and Empowering Democracy in Northwestern Nigeria, will be implemented in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, and Niger states. The intervention comes amid growing concerns over the spread of false information, insecurity, and declining public trust within vulnerable communities.
Speaking during the launch, a representative of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Xenia Stoll, described disinformation as a major threat capable of fueling instability and social unrest.
According to her, misinformation has evolved beyond ordinary communication challenges and is increasingly being used to incite violence, deepen divisions, and weaken democratic institutions.
She added that the initiative would focus on strengthening media literacy and equipping citizens with the tools needed to identify and resist manipulative narratives.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the CJID Board and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Kashere, Umaru Pate, said the northwestern region faces multiple structural challenges, including poverty, insecurity, displacement, and low literacy levels, which make communities more susceptible to false information.
He noted that while radio continues to shape public discourse in many communities, platforms like WhatsApp now play a significant role in spreading information, including unverified claims and misleading narratives.
According to Mr Pate, fabricated security alerts, hate speech, and inflammatory rumours often circulate rapidly, worsening tensions in already fragile communities.
He stressed that the initiative is designed not only to respond to individual misinformation cases but also to build long-term societal resilience against manipulation and harmful narratives.
CJID Executive Director Akintunde Babatunde explained that the programme would combine media literacy campaigns, journalist training, OSINT-based verification techniques, artificial intelligence-assisted fact-checking, and community engagement strategies.
He said teachers would be trained to serve as media literacy advocates, while journalists and broadcasters would receive support in verification and conflict-sensitive reporting. The initiative will also establish campus-based fact-checking networks and promote outreach efforts through radio programmes and WhatsApp campaigns targeting local communities.
Mr Babatunde added that the project builds on CJID’s previous information integrity and fact-checking work across West Africa through platforms such as DUBAWA and other regional verification initiatives.
As part of the programme, journalists, researchers, fact-checkers, and digital investigators across Northern Nigeria are expected to benefit from mentorship opportunities, training sessions, and collaborative monitoring activities.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar, represented at the event by Muhammad Kilgori of the Sultanate Council, expressed support for the initiative and called for sustained partnerships beyond the project duration.
He emphasised the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen peaceful coexistence and protect information integrity in the region.
The initiative is expected to bring together media professionals, civil society groups, educators, community leaders, security agencies, and digital influencers in efforts to curb the spread of harmful and misleading narratives across Northern Nigeria.
