FIAP and FactCheckAfrica Train Northern Nigerian Social Media Influencers to Counter Electoral Disinformation Ahead of 2027 Elections
Kano, Nigeria | 24 July 2026
The Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP), through its implementing partner FactCheckAfrica, convened a three-day regional training camp aimed at strengthening the role of social media influencers in promoting verified information, countering electoral disinformation, and advancing peaceful democratic participation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections amid growing concerns over online misinformation, hate speech, and AI-generated deceptive content, the three-day training camp for social media influencers in Kano State represents the Northern edition of the training branded under the public campaign #CheckBeforeYouPost: Gen Z Creatives for Electoral Integrity.
The training camp, titled “Voices That Count: Training Camps for Social Media Influencers on Electoral Integrity,” brings together 30 carefully selected digital creators, content producers, and online communicators from Northern Nigeria. Participants represent diverse online communities across Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and emerging digital platforms, with deliberate emphasis on women and young creators whose voices significantly shape public conversations online. The Kano camp builds on the successful Southern edition held in Enugu earlier this month on July 6 – 8, and forms part of a broader regional effort to strengthen information integrity and democratic participation through responsible digital engagement.
Over three intensive days, participants will develop practical skills in verification, digital investigation, conflict-sensitive communication, AI-assisted fact-checking, ethical content creation, and online safety. Rather than focusing solely on theoretical discussions, the camp adopts a production-centred model where creators collaboratively develop practical electoral integrity content ready for deployment on their respective platforms.
The training responds to increasing evidence that social media creators now serve as primary sources of political information for millions of Nigerians, particularly young people. While these platforms provide unprecedented opportunities for civic participation, they have also become fertile ground for coordinated disinformation campaigns, manipulated media, hate speech, and increasingly sophisticated AI-generated content capable of undermining electoral credibility and social cohesion.
Throughout the camp, participants will engage with leading experts in digital verification, civic technology, communications, journalism, peacebuilding, and creative media. Sessions will cover Nigeria’s evolving electoral information landscape, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques, reverse image verification, AI-content detection, platform algorithms, behavioural communication, digital storytelling, and responsible online influence.
Unlike traditional workshops, the programme adopts a production-focused training camp model that prioritises practical content creation. Participants will work 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.
The programme also introduces participants to the Charter of Ten Principles for Electoral Integrity, a voluntary ethical framework that encourages influencers to commit to responsible information sharing, transparency, verification, conflict sensitivity, and democratic accountability. Participants are also expected to contribute to the development of a Responsible Influencer Kit, a repository of campaign templates, messaging guides, visual assets, and platform-specific resources that will support wider civic education efforts across Nigeria.
Upon completion of the camp, participants will be expected to implement a pilot #CheckBeforeYouPost micro-campaign through their own social media channels within 14 days, applying the practical skills acquired during the training. In addition to strengthening individual capacity, the activity seeks to establish long-term collaboration among creators by fostering peer learning networks capable of responding rapidly to emerging misinformation during electoral periods.
Speaking on the initiative, Abideen Olasupo, Founder of FactCheckAfrica, said:
“Social media influencers are no longer simply entertainers or content creators; they have become trusted information intermediaries for millions of Nigerians. Their choices can either strengthen democratic participation or unintentionally amplify harmful falsehoods. Through this training, we are equipping creators with practical verification skills, ethical frameworks, and collaborative networks that enable them to contribute positively to electoral integrity while maintaining the creativity and authenticity that define their platforms.”
Through this initiative, FactCheckAfrica continues its commitment to strengthening democratic resilience by empowering digital creators with the knowledge, tools, and ethical standards required to promote verified information, counter harmful narratives, and encourage peaceful civic participation before, during, and beyond Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
The Kano training camp forms part of Activity 3.1.5a(3)ii under Thematic Area 1: Mis/Disinformation, Fact-checking and AI Learning of the EU Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project. The Kano training camp is the second of three major activities under this component of the EPSG Project. It will be followed by an exhibition event that will bring together Nigerian and international participants to showcase participant-led campaigns and strengthen regional collaboration on electoral information integrity.
This activity is organised by the Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP) in collaboration with FactCheckAfrica, under the framework of the EU Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project.
The Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP) is the Spanish Cooperation institution specialised in promoting the participation of public administrations in international cooperation programmes. Operating in more than 120 countries, FIAP mobilises public sector expertise to strengthen public institutions, democratic governance, and sustainable development through peer-to-peer cooperation.
Within the EPSG Project, FIAP co-implements Component 3 alongside GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), supporting electoral integrity through the prevention of electoral violence and the countering of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech across West Africa.
The EU Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project is a multi-donor initiative designed to strengthen peace, democratic governance and regional stability within ECOWAS Member States. The project is jointly financed by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (MOFA).
For media enquiries: Email: factcheckelections@gmail.com Telephone: +2347068775529
Website: https://factcheckafrica.net
