CJID, EU launch initiative to combat disinformation in North West Nigeria

The 18-month initiative aimed at countering disinformation and strengthening the resilience of democracy in North West Nigeria was launched on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 in Sokoto State by the European Union (EU) and the Center for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

The program entitled Combating Disinformation and Empowering Democracy in North West Nigeria will be implemented in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger states. This intervention comes amid increasing concerns over the spread of false information, insecurity and declining public trust in vulnerable communities.

Speaking at the launch, the EU delegation representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Xenia Stoll, described disinformation as a major threat that could trigger instability and social unrest.

According to him, misinformation has expanded beyond ordinary communication challenges and is increasingly being used to incite violence, deepen divisions and undermine democratic institutions.

He added that this initiative will focus on strengthening media literacy and equipping society with the tools necessary to identify and reject manipulative narratives.

READ ALSO: APC candidate who lost primary election goes around town swearing at party (Video)

Also speaking, CJID Board Chair and former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere, Umaru Pate, said the north-west region faces various structural challenges, including poverty, insecurity, displacement and low literacy rates, which make society more vulnerable to false information.

He noted that while radio continues to shape public discourse in many communities, platforms like WhatsApp now play an important role in disseminating information, including unverified claims and misleading narratives.

According to Pate, fabricated security alerts, hate speech and inflammatory rumors often circulate quickly, exacerbating tensions in already vulnerable communities.
He emphasized that the initiative is designed not only to respond to individual cases of misinformation but also to build long-term societal resilience to manipulation and harmful narratives.

CJID Executive Director Akintunde Babatunde explained that the program will combine media literacy campaigns, journalist training, OSINT-based verification techniques, fact-checking with the help of artificial intelligence, and community engagement strategies.

He said teachers would be trained to act as media literacy advocates, while journalists and broadcasters would receive support in verification and conflict-sensitive reporting. The initiative will also build a fact-checking network on campus and encourage outreach efforts through radio programs and WhatsApp campaigns targeting local communities.

Babatunde added that the project builds on CJID’s previous information integrity and fact-checking across West Africa through platforms such as DUBAWA and other regional verification initiatives.

As part of this program, journalists, researchers, fact checkers and digital investigators in Northern Nigeria are expected to benefit from mentoring opportunities, training sessions and collaborative monitoring activities.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar, who was represented at the event by Muhammad Kilgori of the Sultanate Council, expressed his support for the initiative and called for a continued partnership beyond the duration of the project.
He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen peaceful coexistence and protect information integrity in the region.

The initiative is expected to bring together media professionals, civil society groups, educators, community leaders, security agencies and digital influencers in an effort to curb the spread of detrimental and misleading narratives in northern Nigeria.

By: Mutalib Jibril