The International Press Centre, IPC, in collaboration with Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, has trained thirty-six female journalists on how to combat fake news and disinformation.
The two-day capacity building/ monitoring training, held in Abuja, was part of efforts to strengthen the media for fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive reporting of the 2023 general elections.
Participants at the training were drawn from print, broadcast and online platforms.
The training is also part of activities under Component 4, support to media, of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, EUSDGN II, project.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, International Press Centre, IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said the workshop is aimed at enhancing female journalists’ professional skill for impactful and public interest reporting.
“We are delighted to have as a worthy partner in this exercise- the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), under the leadership of Ladi Bala-which underscores our joint commitment to ensuring that female journalists are equipped to help strengthen the democratic processes.
“Because the project seeks to make the media catalysts of credible elections, the actions, including media engagements like this, seek to strengthen the media for fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of electoral processes in Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking, the president of NAWOJ, Ladi Bala, said “This training is aimed at exposing participants to the effective tools of countering fake news,
disinformation and misinformation.
“It is a known fact that advancement in information technology and the emergence of several social media platforms have come with the challenges of disinformation, misinformation and fake news.
“From the foregoing challenges, providing accurate and verifiable information to help promote sane society is a task that must be upheld by journalists in the country.
“In the light of this, the need to scrutinize and fact check information has become highly imperative.
“The media and journalists must strive to get it right by setting the right agenda for gender inclusion and persons with disabilities in the process.”