The Presidency has trained more than 100 social media influencers from Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to combat fake news, curb misinformation, and enhance public awareness of government programmes and policies.
The capacity-building workshop, organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, brought together digital content creators, online influencers and media stakeholders in Kano.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said the initiative was designed to equip participants with the skills needed to identify and counter false information, particularly AI-generated content and manipulated social media posts.
He noted that the growing use of artificial intelligence to produce misleading videos, images and audio clips had heightened the need for digital literacy and responsible social media engagement.
According to him, while Nigerians have the constitutional right to express their opinions freely, the misuse of social media through the deliberate spread of falsehoods poses a threat to national unity and informed public discourse.
Abdulaziz urged participants to use their online platforms responsibly by verifying information before sharing it and by disseminating factual reports about government initiatives and development programmes.
He explained that the workshop was not intended to suppress criticism or dissent but to encourage responsible communication and reduce the spread of misinformation capable of creating unnecessary tension.
Also speaking, development expert Dr. Musa Abdullahi-Sufi stressed the need for influencers to promote verified information, saying persistent misinformation could undermine public confidence, discourage investment and overshadow genuine development efforts.
He encouraged participants to project accurate information on government interventions across sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, education and healthcare.
The training forms part of the Presidency’s broader strategy to strengthen digital communication, improve public understanding of government policies and build a network of informed online voices capable of challenging misinformation across social media platforms.
