#Report: Empowering Students to Combat Fake News: FactCheckAfrica’s FactChecker Facilitates a Training Session at UDUS

BY: Mustapha Lawal

FactCheckAfrica’s fact-checker, Dauda Musbau, led a training session on “The Art of Fact-Checking Using Digital Tools”  at Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) on May 5th, 2024. 

The session was part of countering misinformation and promoting media literacy project organized by the Fact-check Club, National Association of Campus Journalists (UDUS) in collaboration with the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). The goal was to teach students how to spot misinformation online and use digital tools for fact-checking.

The facilitator, Dauda talked about the importance of using human intelligence and digital tools to verify information. He highlighted in his session that AI-generated content is becoming more sophisticated and can sometimes fool people, so it’s crucial to be vigilant. He introduced the participants at the session to an array of AI and digital tools that can be used for verifying digital information and fact check claims, 

He also introduced them to MyAIFactchecker, a new tool developed by FactCheckAfrica to help people verify the authenticity of information. MyAIFactchecker is a powerful tool available in various local languages that uses AI to check the sentiment of claim and validate sources of content. 

Since actors of information pollution change strategies and tactics day by day, Fact-check Africa through the BBYDI developed MyAIFactchecker, to provide a strong AI-enabled application for Africans to detect and isolate fictitious facts from facts. 

Speaking with the facilitator after the event, he expressed his optimism for the future of factchecking and media literacy with the invention of the AI tool. “As a facilitator, I seized the opportunity to introduce to them various digital tools that can aid their verifications. I equally took them on how to use MyAIFactchecker and incorporate it in their checks” Dauda expressed. 

The training session was a success, with students showing enthusiasm and interest in learning how to combat misinformation effectively. 

MyAiFactchecker is a testament to FactCheckAfrica’s continued mission to promote media literacy and ensure the spread of accurate information by equipping them with the skills and tools needed to verify information online.