As Anambra State Governorship Election draw near, the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has trained 30 Community Truth Ambassadors to combat the rising tide of disinformation, misinformation, fake news, and hate speech that threaten Nigeria’s democracy.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
the training, held in Awka, Anambra State, was organized in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under Project IMPACT: Inclusive Mobilization for Participation, Advocacy, and Civic Transformation.
Speaking at the event, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Mrs. Ugochi Ehiahuruike, said Project IMPACT is committed to equipping citizens, civil society groups, government actors, media professionals, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and community influencers with critical knowledge and tools to counter harmful narratives.
“Today’s gathering marks a significant step toward activating a robust network of Community Truth Ambassadors, grassroots champions poised to fact-check, counter harmful narratives, and foster safer, more inclusive civic spaces,” she said.
Ehiahuruike explained that the training aimed to: Strengthen participants’ ability to identify, verify, and counter false information, promote digital literacy and fact-checking skills among diverse stakeholders and establish a sustainable network of grassroots fact-checkers.
She added that the program would especially benefit women and PWDs in markets and rural communities, while thanking Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and the UK-FCDO for funding Project IMPACT.
In his remarks, Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, described the spread of fake news and hate speech as criminal acts capable of undermining peace, governance, and electoral credibility.
“Fake news is never intended to build—it is meant to destroy truth, harmony, and everything good,” he said.
Mefor warned against the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to caricature and mimic respected personalities, noting that such practices could damage Anambra’s image ahead of the November 8 elections.
“Politics can be played clean, without resorting to disinformation. If this trend continues, the election may not be peaceful despite its potential to be one of Nigeria’s best,” he cautioned.
The commissioner called for swift prosecution of offenders as a deterrent, adding that timely trials would help sanitize social media and promote a safer online space.
In her address, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, reaffirmed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair, and peaceful elections.
She urged political actors to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, stressing that fake news could erode citizens’ trust in the electoral process.
“Your work as truth ambassadors is critical because fake news can undermine our collective resolve for credible elections. I commend SIDEC for this important initiative,” Agwu said.
A resource person, Dr Austin Aigbe, Regional Officer and ECOWAS Liaison Lead at the West Africa Democracy Network (WADEMOS), delivered sessions on: Understanding fake news and disinformation, and the dangers of misinformation to peace and democracy.
He also presented paper on navigating disinformation and generative AI in Nigeria as well as fact-checking principles, strategies, and dissemination and emerging theories in Nigeria’s fake news ecosystem
Aigbe charged the participants to take their task very seriously as they would be contributing to keeping the peace of the state ahead of the election.
With the training of 30 grassroots Truth Ambassadors, SIDEC hopes to foster inclusive civic engagement, enhance resilience against disinformation, and ensure that voters especially women and PWDs are better informed as Anambra heads toward the November election.
“Together, we can nurture informed communities, uphold democratic values, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s governance processes,” Ehiahuruike affirmed.
