The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Mr. Akeem Abas, on Wednesday, appealed to Google Africa to develop a fact-checking platform for journalists in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abas made the appeal during his opening remarks at a one-day training on AI Gemini organised by Google Nigeria for 100 journalists in Oyo State.

The NUJ chairman said the proposed platform would enable journalists and members of the public to verify news reports and multimedia content before dissemination, particularly during the election period.

According to him, the growing use of artificial intelligence tools to generate misleading content poses a serious threat to the credibility of information sharing and the integrity of the 2027 polls.

Abas explained that the platform, if developed, would help reveal the sources and authors of news reports and other digital materials, thereby promoting transparency and credibility in the media space.

He added that such an initiative would contribute to peaceful, credible and hitch-free elections.

The training, which was the second in the series, was designed to equip media professionals across print and broadcast platforms with modern digital skills, improve newsroom productivity and enhance the practice of journalism in the state.

On his part, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the training as timely, considering the growing impact of emerging technologies on media practice. He urged journalists to apply the knowledge gained to uphold professionalism.

Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Oyo State, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju; Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Chief Dotun Olaitan; and a veteran journalist, Mrs. Bose Oyewole, who commended the initiative.

They described the training as a valuable opportunity that would reposition journalism and prepare practitioners for future challenges in the profession.