JUST IN: Nigerian scholars develop AI-Driven platform to combat fake news – Reports

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

A team of researchers from Nigerian universities has embarked on a groundbreaking project to develop an artificial intelligence-driven platform, “Naija Falsehoods Buster”, aimed at detecting and mitigating falsehoods across the country’s digital and broadcast media space. The project, titled “Modelling AI to Identify Falsehoods: Impact of On-Air Personalities and Social Media Influencers on National Integration”, is a Tertiary Education Trust Fund-approved 2024 National Research Fund project.

For further information, read more details here

Led by Dr. Toyin Onayinka, the research team comprises experts from various institutions, including Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and University of Jos. According to Onayinka, “The researchers will, after rigorous research, develop an AI-driven system and a national database of influential on-air personalities and social media influencers to detect, monitor, and reduce falsehoods that threaten national cohesion.

The project aims to create a national hub for tracking and evaluating falsehoods, leveraging natural language processing, machine learning, and mixed-methods fieldwork to map the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Onayinka emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “This initiative is paramount at a time like this, where falsehoods and manipulated narratives can accelerate societal polarisation and erode public trust.”

The “Naija Falsehoods Buster” platform will provide real-time, locally trained AI tools and evidence-based guidance to strengthen media literacy, support fact-checking, and inform regulatory and policy interventions that protect national cohesion. The project is scheduled for completion within 24 months and will be hosted on the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post