Abdullateef Sebiotimo reports,
Habeeb Adisa, Editorial Lead at FactCheckAfrica, has been selected for the 2026 UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technology (UK MEET) Fellowship, a programme designed to strengthen reporting on emerging technologies, science and innovation.
The fellowship is delivered by Imperial College London through Imperial Global Ghana, with support from the British High Commission.
Habeeb was selected from a pool of over 500 applications from journalists and content creators across Nigeria and Ghana. According to the organisers, only 13 per cent of applicants were accepted following a competitive selection process in which two reviewers independently assessed each eligible application.
His selection comes against the backdrop of his work on artificial intelligence, information integrity and the implications of emerging technologies for democratic governance in West Africa.
In July 2026, Habeeb published a research paper titled “AI Regulation and Democratic Integrity in West Africa: Policy Responses to Data, Platforms, and Misinformation” in the Nigerian Journal of Business and Social Sciences. The study examines AI governance in Nigeria, drawing comparisons with Ghana, Senegal, Benin and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The research examines how artificial intelligence intersects with data protection, electoral misinformation, digital identity, surveillance and algorithmic bias. It identifies gaps in implementation, transparency and accountability as significant challenges to effective AI governance in the region.
Habeeb’s work also extends beyond research into the practical application of technology in journalism. At FactCheckAfrica, he has contributed to initiatives promoting the use of artificial intelligence to address misinformation and strengthen information integrity.
These include MyAIFactChecker, an AI-powered fact-checking tool launched by the organisation, and its AI Journalism Fellowship, which was designed to equip journalists in West Africa with the knowledge and skills to navigate artificial intelligence in their work.
He has also worked with FactCheckAfrica in strengthening verification skills among journalists and researchers, promoting media literacy in underserved communities.
Beyond his work as a fact-checker, Habeeb has trained more than 700 Nigerian students and journalists in fact-checking, equipping them with practical skills to identify, investigate and counter misinformation.
The UK MEET Fellowship will provide him with further opportunities to investigate emerging technologies and strengthen his reporting on their implications for society.
The in-country residential programme is scheduled to take place in Abuja from October 18 to 24, 2026. Fellows will engage with researchers working on artificial intelligence, climate technology, health technology and other emerging fields.
The programme will also feature practical sessions on verifying technological claims, identifying relevant data, investigating beyond official statements and translating complex scientific issues into accessible stories.
Participants will develop their own story pitches through editorial clinics focused on refining angles, identifying credible sources and establishing publication plans.
Following the residential programme, fellows who demonstrate strong application of the training and develop rigorous story pitches will be considered for a UK Knowledge Exchange in London in late November 2026. Those selected will engage with researchers at Imperial College London and gain first-hand insight into the science behind their proposed stories.
The fellowship offers Habeeb an opportunity to build on his existing work in AI research and fact-checking while deepening his capacity to investigate emerging technologies and their consequences for African societies.
