The Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has held a two-day training for government officials, journalists, and community leaders aimed at tackling the spread of disinformation, misinformation, fake news, and hate speech ahead of the November 8 Anambra governorship election.
The training, held on September 17 and 18 at Peackastel Hotel, Awka, focused on strengthening electoral integrity, restoring public trust, and protecting vulnerable groups such as women, youths, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Anambra Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, who served as guest of honour, warned of the destructive potential of misinformation and hate speech, citing a past false nuclear alarm incident between the US and Russia as an example of the dangers of unchecked narratives. He urged journalists to verify information before publication and appealed to politicians and citizens to avoid spreading false or inflammatory content that could disrupt the November election.
SIDEC Executive Director, Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike, explained that the training sought to develop Community Truth Ambassadors as part of Project IMPACT, implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and funded by UK-FCDO. She said participants were equipped to fact-check, counter harmful narratives, and promote inclusive civic engagement, with particular focus on supporting women and PWDs.
Lead facilitator Austin Aigbe, during his session on fake news and disinformation, stressed that democracy is under threat in the information age and provided participants with fact-checking tools such as Google Reverse Image Search, TinEye, InVid Video Data Viewer, and YouTube Data Viewer.
Programme Manager Bruno Chinaecherem emphasized the importance of youth participation in governance, outlining barriers and solutions to encourage greater involvement.
Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agu, commended SIDEC for the initiative and encouraged journalists to apply critical thinking and thorough verification before disseminating information.
The event, moderated by Alfred Ajayi, also featured contributions from Prof. Uche Collins Nwogwugwu, Chairman of SIDEC Board and Director of the Institute of Social Policy, UNIZIK Awka, who underscored the importance of promoting truth and responsible communication.
The training concluded with group discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and the presentation of certificates to participants.
