US Builds Capacity for 170 Radio Journalists, 1,000 Youths in Nigeria

Segun James

As part of its commitment to promote and improve media literacy in Nigeria, the United States Government has launched ‘Project Fact Check Nigeria’, a media literacy and countering misinformation project.

With the support of the US Consulate-General in Lagos, the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA), and the Enugu Literacy Society (ELS), the project seeks to strengthen critical thinking skills, expand digital and media literacy, as well as build capacity of radio journalists to counter misinformation and disinformation across the 17 states in southern Nigeria.

Through this project, more than 170 radio hosts, producers, and reporters will acquire fact-checking skills and explore best practices for spotting fake news, disinformation, and misinformation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop in Lagos yesterday, the US Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli, explained that a healthy democracy requires both an informed public and accountable media that provide truthful and objective information.

“By promoting media literacy, we strengthen the principles of transparency, good governance and rule of law that serve as the essential cornerstones of our democratic system,” Ibelli noted.

As part of the project, WABMA and ELS have entered into a partnership with the management of the 17 participating radio stations for the production and airing of media literacy and countering misinformation shows in the next 12 months.

The radio shows and content will highlight the importance of personal accountability in the dissemination of information and also teach basic media literacy skills.

To support the production and airing of the media literacy radio shows and content, the US Consulate, WABMA and ELS donated equipment, including computers, digital voice recorders, headsets and microphones to the radio stations.

According to Ibelli, “In few months to come, we ask that you promote media literacy skills, and educate your audience as well as the people in your different social networks and communities in order to be vigilant against the threat of false information.”

A secondary component of ‘Project Fact Check Nigeria’ is to teach 1,000 young leaders the basics of digital fact-checking.