The International Press Centre (IPC-Nigeria) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched the iVerify project to strengthen the fight against rising information disorder caused by fake news, disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech in the electoral and democratic processes in the country.
The iVerify initiative was also supported by the Spanish Government.
Speaking during the public launch of the iVerify project and the unveiling of the iVerify fact-checking platform in Abuja, Executive Director, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the project aimed to strengthen efforts against information disorder, particularly in the context of electoral and democratic processes.
He said, “The core objective is to establish a technology-driven platform, provide capacity building for journalists in fact-checking electoral information, promote media literacy, and engage in public enlightenment to combat information disorder. Collaboration is key to advocating for a credible environment in information dissemination.”
He said the IPC had already begun optimising the platform, and that the platform use a tech-savy fact-checking tool with a human element.
He said fact-checkers are overseen by senior journalists to ensure adherence to professional standards.
He added: “There are plans to recruit full-time fact checkers, and freelance journalists, and training of 1,000 fact checkers across 36 states before the 2027 elections.”
Arogundade stressed that prior to the launching, the organisation held a capacity-building workshop training 80 journalists in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states before the November 11 governorship elections.
He also urged political parties and handlers of government platforms to take responsibility and that those found guilty of infractions should be held accountable.
Speaking on the dangers of hate speech, the Chairman INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, urged Nigerians to halt the spread of fake news as it can incite violence.
Represented by INEC Acting Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mary Nkem, Prof Yakubu said that hate speech could undermine democratic values, core principles of democracy, such as respect for human rights, and create tension in the society.
Also, a representative of the UNDP and the lead team, Mathew Alao, said the iverify platform was conceived by UNDP to promote information integrity around election, governance and democratic processes in Nigeria.
“The importance of this project is to deepen democratic caution in Nigeria by converting the negative influence on the proliferation of information disorder in the nation’s polity especially during electioneering campaigns,” he said.