THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has partnered with the Coal City University, Enugu and AE-FUNAI (Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu- Alike, Ikwo) on countering misinformation and promoting media literacy.
The partnership resulted in a two-day training for the institutions’ students from November 22 to 23 on the “Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy” project.
It aims to reduce the dissemination and impact of misinformation in Nigeria by promoting media literacy and responsible information sharing among citizens.
The German Embassy in Abuja supports the project.
Students were given a thorough step-by-step guide on combatting false news, identifying phishing websites, and verifying images and videos.
They were also taught how to write pitches, use OSINT tools, and archive claims online, among others, at the training held within the schools’ premises.
The ICIR editor, Bamas Victoria, who headed the facilitators, explained what could be said to be misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. She also stressed the need to cross-check sources cited in a report.
The seminar emphasized the need to identify false news circulated on various platforms and how to fact-check using the tools available.
The ICIR team, led by The ICIR Editor, Victoria Bamas, met with Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State’s management for The ICIR’s “Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy” project.
They were received by the university’s vice chancellor.

In his speech, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunday Elom, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Ezeoha Abel, emphasised the university’s dedication to improving students’ educational experiences.
He conveyed the university’s unwavering support for the students’ educational journey and extended his sincere gratitude for being chosen as one of the 12 universities in Nigeria to take part in The ICIR’s Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy project.
Some of the students interviewed said the seminar taught them not to be purveyors of false news and to always check sources of information obtained on social media and other platforms.

Facilitators at AE-FUNAI include Victoria Bamas, Editor of the ICIR, researcher and fact-checker at Dubawa, Silas Jonathan, and social media manager Shehu Olayinka.
At Coal City University, Enugu, The ICIR team, led by the FactCheckHub Editor, Opeyemi Kehinde, met with the management of Coal City University in Enugu for The ICIR’s “Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy” project.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor received them.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Afam Icha Ituma, emphasised the university’s commitment to enhancing the educational experience of its students.
He expressed profound gratitude for being selected as one of the 12 universities in Nigeria to participate in #TheICIR’s Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy project and reiterated the university’s full support for the students’ learning journey.
Some students who shared their experiences after the training noted that the seminar taught them not to be purveyors of false news and always to check sources of information obtained on social media and other platforms.

Facilitators at Coal City University include FactCheckHub Editor Opeyemi Kehinde, researcher at Dubawa, Temilade Onilede, and social media management expert Esther Ilesanmi.
On October 30 and November 8, The ICIR reported a similar partnership and training at the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Hassan Usman Polytechnic, Katsina State, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa state, University of Calabar, University of Lagos and Federal University of Kashere, Gombe state.
Olayinka works with The ICIR as the Social Media Manager, Reporter and Fact-checker. You can shoot him an email via shehuolayinka@gmail.com. You can as well follow him on Twitter via @BelloYinka72