BY: Mustapha Lawal
As part of its Digital Democracy Lab initiative, FactCheckAfrica has trained over 140 citizens, youth civic actors, and journalists in Osun State on the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its application in promoting transparency, accountability, and civic participation.
The AI Fundamentals Workshop, held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at ADOLAK Event Centre, Ogo Oluwa, Osogbo, was implemented under the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Catalyst Grant. The one-day event deepened participants’ understanding of how AI can empower civic action and strengthen Nigeria’s information ecosystem against misinformation and digital harms.
In his welcome address, Habeeb Adisa, Co-Editor of FactCheckAfrica, highlighted the growing importance of AI literacy in strengthening democratic resilience and combating digital misinformation.
Habeeb Adisa
He urged participants to approach the training as “a bridge between knowledge and civic impact”, emphasising that the responsible use of AI is essential to preserve truth and public trust in the digital era. “We must not only learn to use AI tools,” Adisa said, “but also to question how these tools shape our perception of truth and accountability in civic spaces.”
AI and the Ethics of Truth in the Digital Age
Facilitating the first session of the day, Dr Rasheed Adebiyi, a senior lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Fountain University, Osogbo, emphasised that while AI provides new tools to combat misinformation, ethical judgement and human integrity remain indispensable.
Dr Rasheed Adebiyi
“The rise of AI has demystified the Yoruba adage that says ‘Ireje kò sì nínú foto bí ó bá ṣe joko lo ṣe má bá ara rẹ’ – meaning appearances can deceive,” Adebiyi said. “Fact-checking has never been more important as the world faces an unprecedented wave of information pollution.”
He explained that while social media algorithms reward virality rather than accuracy, AI can be harnessed to detect and counter misinformation more effectively. “We need to be careful – AI is powerful, but it must be handled responsibly,” he cautioned. “Technology alone is not enough. We cannot overlook human ethics and editorial judgement – they remain central to the practice of fact-checking.”
Dr Adebiyi outlined the core AI applications in verification work, including reverse image search, social media monitoring, claim detection, and deepfake analysis, while warning against the misuse of these tools to distort public narratives.
He concluded by urging participants to be proactive digital citizens: “Verification begins with you. Question every viral post. Don’t follow the crowd. Take a second look before you share.”
AI in Action: Linking Data, Governance, and Accountability
During the practical session, Lukman Adeoti, Community Manager at 3MTT Osun and Founder of Oroki Hub, guided participants through a hands-on exercise on using AI for civic accountability.
Lukman Adeoti
“This session is to connect the dots between AI, data, and governance in a very practical way,” Adeoti noted. Titled “Tracking Government Spending & Demanding Accountability in Osun State, Nigeria”, Adeoti’s session empowered journalists, students, and civic actors to use AI for data-driven advocacy and public oversight.
Drawing from real state documents, he guided participants through the Osun State 2025 approved budget and Q3 implementation report, helping them understand how to track government allocations and question discrepancies between promises and outcomes.
“Public funds shape our schools, hospitals, farms, and youth futures – but most citizens can’t see how the money is spent,” Adeoti said. “Our state budgets show intentions; implementation reports show claims. Citizens must ask what really happened.” Participants were divided into four thematic groups: Education, Health, Agriculture, and Youth & Sport, to analyse selected line items in the state’s budget using AI-powered tools and open data platforms.
For many, it was their first encounter with real budget documents. Several participants admitted they had never accessed or analysed a public budget before, describing the experience as eye-opening. “Before today, I didn’t even know where to find my state’s budget or what an implementation report looked like,” said one of the participants. “Now I understand how to check claims and compare what the government says with what is actually done.”
Participants presenting their findings from the case study
“This session changed my perception completely,” added Tosin Ajibola, a youth civic actor. “AI made it easier to navigate government data that once felt too technical or hidden. For the first time, I can see the numbers behind the policies.”
Adeoti emphasised that AI is not just a tool for convenience but a civic weapon for transparency when used responsibly. He concluded his session with a clear call to ethical and accountable data use under the theme “Responsible Use of AI”. “Always verify data sources before publishing,” he advised. “AI is a guide, not a final authority. Validate your findings on official portals like the Budget Office, BPP, Tracka, or state websites — and above all, keep community verification at the centre.”
By the end of the session, participants demonstrated a measurable improvement in their ability to identify, analyse, and discuss state-level financial information – an outcome that bridges AI literacy with active citizenship.
AI for Social Good and Public Oversight
In the final session, Mrs Olufunmi Olujide, the executive director of Better Life for Africa Development (BELAD), led a reflective discussion on Harnessing AI for Social Good and Public Oversight.
Mrs Olufunmi Olujide
She highlighted AI’s transformative role in improving agriculture and healthcare, while cautioning participants to remain critical thinkers in an increasingly automated world. “AI can make life easier, but it can also make people lazy – especially when we let machines think for us,” she warned. “Responsible use of technology is as important as innovation itself.”
FactCheckAfrica’s Vision for a Digitally Literate Democracy
Presenting FactCheckAfrica’s broader efforts, Mustapha Lawal showcased the platform’s ongoing initiatives that connect citizens, journalists, and fact-checkers across Africa.
Mustapha Lawal
“Our goal is to promote a culture of truth and build a community that participates meaningfully in democratic processes with verified data and credible narratives,” Lawal explained. He also reaffirmed FactCheckAfrica’s commitment to AI literacy, digital inclusion, and responsible civic technology through the Digital Democracy Lab — a regional initiative fostering youth engagement and innovation across Africa.
Oluwaseye Ogunsanya
Similarly, Oluwaseye Ogunsanya demonstrated MyAIFactChecker, an AI-powered tool developed by FactCheckAfrica to help journalists and citizens verify information faster and more effectively. “It was fascinating to see how technology can be made simple, accessible, and purpose-driven for everyday users,” one participant said after the session.
Participant Reflections and Impact
At the close of the workshop, participants shared reflections on how the training had expanded their understanding of AI’s relevance to civic life and journalism. “The sessions were enlightening and practical,” said Ayobami Adegoke, a youth civic activist from Osogbo. “I learnt how AI can help me verify information before using it in my advocacy work.”
“As someone working in media, this training has changed how I view information verification,” shared Mary Olatunji, a local journalist. “I now understand how AI tools can improve speed and accuracy while keeping human judgement at the centre.” “The workshop has inspired me to integrate AI tools in tracking government projects and budget performance,” added Ibrahim Suleiman, a youth leader. “It’s a new era of accountability for us.”
Participants also appreciated the inclusive nature of the event, which featured over 100 attendees, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). “The discussions around responsible AI use and ethical considerations were eye-opening,” noted Bose Akinwale. “I now see how AI can be used not just for innovation but also for inclusion and transparency.”
About the Digital Democracy Lab
The Digital Democracy Lab is a FactCheckAfrica initiative designed to foster civic innovation, digital literacy, and responsible technology use among African youth. Through workshops, collaborative labs, and AI literacy projects, the initiative strengthens fact-checking ecosystems and advances democratic participation in the digital age. The Lab’s core objective is to equip young people, journalists, and civic actors with the skills to responsibly leverage AI for truth, transparency, and accountability – ensuring technology serves democracy, not undermines it.
