FactCheckAfrica Conference: ‘MyAIFactcheck will make it easy for me to verify information’ — KwaraPoly Students Share Insights
By: Quadri Yahya
Arising from a conference organized by FactCheckAfrica/Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, the students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin have shared insights from the various sessions held to empower the attendees.
A Higher National Diploma student of Mass Communication, Olatunji Dasola said the discussion on digital literacy was an eye-opener, adding that FactCheckAfrica Artificial Intelligence fact-checker, MyAIFactChecker, simplifies the process of verification.
“The fact-checking conference gave me insightful knowledge about digital literacy. Also the website MyAIfactcheck will make it easy for me to verify information”, the student said.
The Capacity Development Training and Digital Rights Conference held Thursday in partnership with the KwaraPoly Mass Communication Department hosted media scholars who discussed media literacy, new media and gendered misinformation.
While appreciating BBYDI/FactCheckAfrica and the host, Head of Department, Mass Communication, Mr. Olohungbebe Fatiu Tope for organising the conference, Ajoyo Balikis Olaide (HND 1 student) and Adewumi Omolola (National Diploma 2) said the training was significant for their future aspiration in journalism.
“The fact-checking conference has truly equipped me with necessary skills that I needed as a journalism student,” Olaide said.
FactCheckAfrica gathered that many non-communication students also attended the conference. Among them was Ibrahim Khairat, (HND 2, Hospitality Management), who opined that the conference made her understand that “Mass Comm is a professional course that one has to start practicing right from school”.
Recall FactCheckAfrica earlier reported that an associate professor of Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Mustapha Kayode Lambe delivered a keynote speech where he highlighted the impact of fake news on journalism practice.
The chief host and rector of the institution, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, also emphasised on the destructive effects of misinformation on individuals and nations.
Communications Lead, FactCheckAfrica, Taiwo Sunday Timothy took the conversation further while moderating a panel of experts on the theme, “The role of inclusive media leadership, digital rights, and AI in the fight against misinformation, and gendered disinformation”.
Experts on the panel were; Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary, Kwara State Government; Mrs Rasheedat Oladotun Iliyas, Manager News and Current Affairs Department, Radio Nigeria Harmony FM, Idofian; Mallam Abdullateef Lanre Ahmed (Kwara NUJ Chairman; Mrs. Nofisat Sadiq, Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, KwaraPoly.
