National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
…Trains Stakeholders On Capacity Building On Countering Disinformation
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) and the National Democratic Institute(NDI) midweek commenced a three-day capacity building training for the media and other stakeholders involved in the electoral process on countering disinformation in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
In her welcome address, Director of the CDD West Africa, Idayat Hassan, represented by the center’s Programme Officer, Mr David Emefiele noted that the training became imperative in readiness for the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship elections in the state.
She averred that there was need media practitioners and the general public be abreast with and enlightened on how to identify, manage, as well as avoid the consumption and disemination of fake news so that they would not inturn be misinformed, dis-informed as well as mal-informed in the build up to, during and after the November polls.
Hassan also restated that the training was taking place simultaneously in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states, respectively between the 18th through 20th October, 2023.
Hassan said: “On behalf of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and our esteemed partner, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), I welcome you all to this capacity building training on countering disinformation in preparation for the November 11th 2023 Governorship election in Bayelsa State.
“The CDD was established in Lagos Nigeria, in 1999 as an independent, not-for-profit, research, training, advocacy and capacity-building organization.
She added: “The purpose was to mobilize global opinion and resources for democratic development and provide an independent space to critically reflect on the challenges posed to the democratization and development processes in West Africa.”
“It’s mission is to be the prime catalyst and facilitator for strategic analysis and capacity building for sustainable democracy and development in West Africa.The Centre remains focused on capacity-building work, policy advocacy and research reference points on democratic governance, human security, people-centered development, and human rights.
“Disinformation and the weaponization of fake news in Nigeria, and across the West African sub-region have had serious implications for the credibility of the electoral process.
“Information disorder is similarly threatening the social fabric of multi-ethnic societies across the African. The threats posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation have also affected historically marginalized groups, especially in terms of their participation in the political process.”
The Director also frowned at the barriers which seemingly were militating against women political participation, saying the barriers have been further accentuated by the dangers posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
The CDD boss said: “The gendered dimensions of fake news were on display during the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections, especially in the light of identity-driven violence, which undermined the participation of several groups. Disinformation has been identified as a key driver in some of the reported cases of violence against women participating in the political process, either as voters or candidates.
“While the problem is not new, the ongoing manifestations are particularly challenging, given the scope of the manipulation, the ease with which information can be shared, the diversity of techniques adopted to do so, and the proliferation of actors — individuals, partisan actors, and influencers at the level of the communities.
“Added to this challenging mix is the fact that global tech platforms have a limited regulatory presence in West Africa, with priority placed on politically influential countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire”.
In the same vein, Research Analyst with the CDD, Mr Dengiyefa Angalapu has charged stakeholders to contribute towards peaceful and credible polls as the state’s gubernatorial elections draw closer.
Angalapu restated that research findings from previous polls in the state were replete with violence in parts of the state, noting also that the centre was afraid that there was the propensity of worsening electoral crisis in the parts of the state with the partitioning in the award of oil pipeline surveillance contracts few weeks ahead of the polls to ex-agitators allegedly loyal to some politicians and political parties.
He said: “If information weren’t professionally and correctly managed, elections in Bayelsa State and elsewhere in the nation could become very violent. This is because recently as the elections draw neareer, the federal government has again awarded oil pipeline surveillance contract to some ex-militant leaders and others allegedly loyal to some politicians and political parties.
“People must watch for fake news before, during and even after the elections. Fake news leads to misinformation and disinformation. It can ingnite violence and lead to the lose of lives and properties, it can mar the entire electoral process.”
Highpoints of the training which ended at the weekend were contributions by participants through comments and discussions on how to avoid misinformation and disinformation in the forthcoming elections, amongst others.
National Wire also reports that stakeholders at the event were also trained on the rudiments of fact checking.
