By Deborah Omoare
In achieving the goal of verifying claims and debunking fake news around electoral elections, FactCheckElection facilitated a training session for her volunteers’ members.
The organisation which is an independent, non-partisan and non profit fact-checking platform, delivered an awesome training session within the space of six days.
The virtual training which was held on Google Meet from 7th to 12th of June saw a total number of sixty three participants in attendance.
The six facilitators who trained the participants were; Sunday Awosoro, Niyi Oyedeji, Kemi Busari, Adebayo Abdul Rahman, Oluwatobi Odeyinka and Kunle Adebanjo.
Topics ranging from “Introduction to fact-checking” to “Where to source for data when fact-checking claims” were addressed by the facilitators.
Reacting to the training sessions, Samuel Agbelusi, a participant, said he is so excited about the great opportunity to learn more about the rudiments of fact-checking and the tools to verify information.
“I also learnt that there are sources we can use to verify claims and stop the spread of fake news”, he stated.
Another participant who attended the training, Peace Oladipo appreciated the organisation for the great opportunity granted to her, stating that she had been equipped with fact-checking skill as a result of the training.
“I am very elated for being part of this great move. For a while, I have been hoping to learn about Fact checking. I used to be a journalist in need of fact-checking skill but all thanks to this platform, I have the skillset now. This is growth for my career.”
Peter Emmanuel, another beneficiary of the training said “The training was an eye-opener. I was able to gain more knowledge from great intellectuals about what fact-checking entails. I learned how to fact-check images and videos and how to source for data to verify information.”
Olasupo Abideen, the convener of FactCheckElections said that the training was organised to empower volunteers across Nigeria and to build the capacity of younger generations as fact-checkers so that issues around fake news will be drastically reduced.