#CheckBeforeYouPost: FIAP, FactCheckAfrica Train Influencers to Counter Fake News Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP), through its implementing partner FactCheckAfrica, conducted a three-day regional training camp to equip social media influencers with the skills to combat fake news and promote electoral integrity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The training camp, titled “Voices That Count: Training Camps for Social Media Influencers on Electoral Integrity,” was held from July 6 to 8, 2026, at Carlton Swiss Hotels, Independence Layout, Enugu, under Activity 3.1.5a(3)ii of the European Union (EU) Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project.

Branded #CheckBeforeYouPost: Gen Z Creatives for Electoral Integrity, the programme brought together 30 social media influencers, digital creators, communicators and online community leaders from Nigeria’s South-East, South-South and South-West geopolitical zones. Together, the participants represent audiences numbering in the millions across Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Building a Network of Responsible Digital Voices

The initiative recognises the growing influence of social media creators in shaping public opinion, particularly among young Nigerians, and seeks to ensure that online influence becomes a force for democratic resilience rather than a channel for fake news, hate speech and political manipulation.

Throughout the three-day training, participants received practical sessions on Nigeria’s electoral information ecosystem, fact-checking and verification techniques, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), artificial intelligence-generated content detection, ethical amplification, conflict-sensitive communication, platform algorithms, digital storytelling, campaign design and online safety.

Unlike conventional workshops, the programme adopted a production-focused training model that prioritised practical content creation. Participants worked collaboratively to produce electoral integrity campaign materials, develop platform-specific communication strategies and prepare pilot digital campaigns for deployment within two weeks after the training.

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Promoting Ethical Online Engagement

One of the major outcomes of the training is the adoption of the Charter of Ten Principles for Electoral Integrity, a voluntary code of ethical commitments designed to guide responsible online engagement during election periods.

Participants are also contributing to the development of a Responsible Influencer Kit—a repository of campaign templates, messaging guides, visual assets and platform-specific resources that will support civic education and responsible online communication across Nigeria.

The programme places particular emphasis on the participation of women and young digital creators, reflecting FIAP’s commitment to promoting inclusive democratic participation and ensuring that those shaping online conversations are equipped with ethical frameworks and practical verification skills.

FactCheckAfrica Highlights Influencers’ Role

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Founder of FactCheckAfrica, Abideen Olasupo, said social media creators have become indispensable partners in protecting democratic processes because they are now among the primary sources of political information for millions of young Nigerians.

He said the training was designed to equip influencers with the skills to verify information before amplifying it, communicate responsibly during elections and use their platforms to strengthen, rather than undermine, democratic participation.

Olasupo noted that while misinformation continues to evolve with advances in artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies, strengthening the capacity of trusted online voices remains one of the most effective ways to build resilience against information disorder.

Part of Broader Electoral Integrity Project

The Enugu training camp is the first of three major activities planned under this component of the EPSG Project. It will be followed by a second regional training camp for Northern Nigeria and an exhibition that will bring together Nigerian and international participants to showcase participant-led campaigns and strengthen regional collaboration on electoral information integrity.

The activity was organised by FIAP in collaboration with FactCheckAfrica under the framework of the EU Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project.

FIAP is the Spanish cooperation institution specialising in promoting the participation of public administrations in international cooperation programmes. Through the EPSG Project, it works alongside GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) to strengthen electoral integrity by preventing electoral violence and countering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech across West Africa.

The EU Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project is jointly funded by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (MOFA) to promote peace, democratic governance and regional stability across ECOWAS Member States.

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