• Nigeria, ECOWAS declare workshop open
Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the European Union (EU) are collaborating on a one-day training programme for editors and media executives to stem the impact of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation in the Nigerian media landscape.

According to a statement signed by the NGE President, Mr Eze Anaba, and the General Secretary, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, the training, which will take place in Lagos today, with institutional support by the EU, is informed by the growing concern that fake news has a huge capacity to damage the credibility of journalists and the media, if not checked.

Giving a background and justification to the programme, NGE said the spread of misinformation, fake news, and disinformation had become a major concern in Nigeria, with fake news and propaganda threatening to undermine the credibility of the mass media and the stability of the country.

The guild stated that the proliferation of social media and other digital platforms had made it easier for misinformation and fake news to spread quickly, often with devastating consequences.

“The Nigerian media industry requires accurate and trustworthy reporting to promote informed decision-making, stability, and holding government at all levels to account. Editors play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information published in their respective media outfits,” the statement read.

On the expected outcomes, the NGE said the training aimed to improve fact-checking skills and knowledge towards effectively identifying and debunking misinformation, and enhancing the accuracy and reliability of reporting in the Nigerian media landscape.

Targeting 50 editors from various media houses, including the print, online, and broadcast media, the statement added that the programme was expected to promote informed decision-making among the Nigerian public through access to accurate and trustworthy information.

Those to make presentations at the programme are the Executive Vice Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, Leadership Newspapers, Mr Azu Isiekwene, and Executive Director, Africa Check, Dr David Ajikobi.

They will treat topics such as ‘Principles of Fact-checking: Understanding the Role of Editors in Fact-checking and the Principles of Accuracy, Fairness, and Transparency’; ‘Identifying Misinformation and Disinformation: Analysing Examples of Misinformation, Desinformation and Fake News’, and ‘Fact-checking Tools and Resources: Overview of Fact-checking Tools’, and ‘Analysing Complex Fact-checking Scenarios’.

The statement noted that the EU Ambassador to Nigeria/ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, would declare the training open after brief remarks.