DNN FactCheck, the fact-checking and verification platform of Development News Network &Media Foundation, and BONews have been selected as the only two Nigerian organisations to receive specialised technical and technological support under Activity 3.1.6a(1): Support for Fact-Checking Platforms as a tool to counter hate speech, disinformation, fraud and election-related violence under the European Union (EU) support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security, and Governance (EPSG) Project.

The initiative is implemented by the Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP) in collaboration with FactCheckAfrica as part of the European Union’s broader efforts to promote credible information, protect democratic processes, and reinforce electoral integrity across the ECOWAS region.

Following a competitive assessment process involving fact-checking organisations across Nigeria, DNN FactCheck was selected in recognition of its commitment to evidence-based journalism, institutional capacity, governance standards, and strategic vision for advancing technology-driven verification.

According to FactCheckAfrica, the support will focus on platform assessment, technical assistance, capacity strengthening, technology enhancement, and the integration of innovative tools that improve the efficiency and impact of fact-checking operations.

The support package will significantly enhance DNN FactCheck’s operational and technological capacity through targeted interventions aimed at strengthening digital resilience and newsroom innovation. The programme includes improvements to digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, website performance, accessibility, and verification systems, alongside access to advanced tools and specialized training in artificial intelligence (AI), digital investigations, open-source intelligence (OSINT), deepfake detection, and other emerging verification technologies.

As a beneficiary, DNN FactCheck will also become part of a regional collaborative verification network that promotes information sharing, cross-border coordination, and collective responses to election-related misinformation and disinformation across West Africa.

Speaking on the selection, the Editorial Board Chair of DNN, Mr. Lakan Otufodunrin described the support as a significant milestone in the organisation’s continued efforts to strengthen information integrity and public trust.

Responding to the selection, Mayowa Adeniran, Editorial Director, DNN Media, expressed enthusiasm regarding the selection. He said: “The world today has become complex, especially during election periods when misinformation and disinformation can undermine public confidence and democratic participation.

“This support will strengthen our technical capacity, expand our investigative capabilities, and enable us to deliver faster, accurate, and evidence-based fact-checks that serve the public interest,”he said.

Also commenting, Wemimo Adewuni-Obiwale, Member, Board of Directors, DNN Media Foundation LTD/GTE, said the selection reflects growing confidence in DNN Media’s work and its contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s information ecosystem.