Federal government launches AI hub to crush fake news

DDM News

(DDM) – The Federal Government has approved the creation of a new national hub, “Naija Falsehood Buster,” aimed at combating fake news and misinformation in Nigeria.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the initiative will be implemented through a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)-approved research project, to be led by Dr. Toyin Segun Onayinka of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

Dr. Onayinka, a New Media Specialist and Head of FUOYE’s Department of Broadcasting, will serve as the project’s Principal Investigator.

The interdisciplinary team includes Dr. Jacob Kehinde Opele (Information Management), Dr. Lawrence Bunmi Adewole (Artificial Intelligence), Dr. Chioma Ifeoma Agbasimelo of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Strategic Communication), Dr. Blessing Vou Dakat of the University of Jos (Pragmatics/Discourse), and Mrs. Grace Oluwakemi Onipede (Junior Researcher).

The project will deploy an AI-driven system and a national database of influential on-air personalities (OAPs) and social media influencers to detect, monitor, and reduce harmful falsehoods threatening national unity.

TETFund confirmed that the project is one of 158 research proposals approved under the 2024 National Research Fund (NRF).

The “Naija Falsehood Buster” platform will track and evaluate misinformation across Nigeria’s digital and broadcast media, with its headquarters hosted at FUOYE.

According to Dr. Onayinka, the research—titled “Modelling AI to Identify Falsehoods: Impact of On-Air Personalities and Social Media Influencers on National Integration”—will combine natural language processing, machine learning, and mixed-methods fieldwork.

Its core objectives include mapping how influential OAPs and influencers spread disinformation, creating a large annotated dataset for Nigeria, and deploying a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tool to flag and visualise falsehoods in real time.

The project will run for 24 months and will also produce dashboards and analytical reports for policymakers, regulators, and media organisations.

Speaking on its significance, Dr. Onayinka stressed that falsehoods and manipulated narratives can deepen societal divisions and erode public trust.

“This hub will provide real-time, locally-trained AI tools and evidence-based guidance to strengthen media literacy, support fact-checking, and inform policy interventions that protect national cohesion,” he said.

In addition to the misinformation project, two other FUOYE scholars secured TETFund grants in 2024.

Professor Olayide Lawal of Industrial Chemistry will research alternative energy from biomass, while Dr. Bamigbola Emmanuel Adelaja of the Faculty of Pharmacy will work on developing novel plant-derived anti-cancer nanodrugs to combat breast and prostate cancer.

Analysts believe that the establishment of the “Naija Falsehood Buster” could be a game-changer in the fight against fake news, especially in an election season where misinformation often escalates.

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