General News
MILAP Trains Young Nigerians to Combat AI Fake News Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Our Correspondent
The Media and Information Literacy Among Young Professionals (MILAP) has intensified efforts to equip young Nigerians with the skills to detect artificial intelligence-generated fake news and counter misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation said it was promoting critical thinking, fact-checking and responsible digital engagement to help citizens distinguish credible information from false and misleading content circulating on social media and other digital platforms.
Founder of MILAP, Toluwanimi Victoria Olujobi, disclosed this in an interview, noting that the growing sophistication of artificial intelligence tools had made it increasingly difficult for people to identify fabricated information.
She explained that the organisation was established to bridge the gap between the availability of information and people’s ability to critically assess its accuracy before accepting or sharing it.
According to Olujobi, the challenge is not necessarily the lack of information but the inability of many people to evaluate information critically.
“The problem and the biggest gap in information is not the fact that the information is not available, but the fact that most people don’t know how to critically think when they get information, analyse it and ensure that it is evaluated before they share it,” she said.
Olujobi said MILAP’s activities extend beyond young professionals to include students, schools and community members, with the aim of building a population capable of making informed decisions based on verified information.
She listed school-based advocacy, community outreach, digital skills training and the establishment of Media and Information Literacy Clubs among the organisation’s initiatives.
She said the clubs teach students how to assess information, use artificial intelligence ethically and acquire digital competencies, including graphic design and other technology-related skills.
According to her, educating young people early is essential to developing responsible information-sharing habits, particularly as children and teenagers increasingly rely on social media for news and other information.
“We believe that charity begins at home. One of the things we do is go down to young people, including those in primary and secondary schools, through advocacy outreaches,” she said.
The MILAP founder stressed that the organisation’s approach goes beyond public campaigns against fake news, focusing instead on practical education and skills that participants can apply in their daily lives.
“We are not just shouting, saying no to fake news. We are making sure that we are educating them, advocating and also imbibing technical skills in them that will help them do this,” she said.
She added that MILAP also trains participants in content creation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence to encourage informed participation in the digital space.
On measuring the impact of its programmes, Olujobi said the organisation evaluates participants’ feedback and their ability to replicate the knowledge gained in their schools and communities.
She explained that the organisation operates through a network of Media and Information Literacy Clubs, allowing trained participants to share their knowledge with others and extend the reach of its interventions.
According to her, MILAP has reached more than 2,000 people through its activities and maintains records to monitor its outreach and impact.
She identified the ability of participants to independently apply and share the lessons learned as an important measure of the programme’s effectiveness.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Olujobi said MILAP was strengthening its efforts to help young Nigerians identify AI-generated misinformation and verify political claims before sharing them.
She noted that the organisation’s training includes the use of fact-checking tools and other verification methods to establish the accuracy of information circulating online.
However, she cautioned that technology alone could not eliminate misinformation, insisting that individuals must develop the critical thinking skills needed to question suspicious claims and assess the credibility of digital content.
“The first fact-checking tool that you need is your brain,” she said.
Olujobi warned that the uncritical use of artificial intelligence could contribute to the spread of false information, particularly when people accept AI-generated responses without independently verifying their accuracy.
She also disclosed that MILAP had operated a fact-checking team during previous election-related activities, verifying claims and sharing findings across its networks to help audiences distinguish between accurate reports and false information.
She said the organisation intended to sustain and strengthen the initiative ahead of the 2027 elections by encouraging young people to take greater responsibility for the information they consume and distribute.
Olujobi further emphasised the importance of sustained investment in media and information literacy education as digital platforms continue to accelerate the creation and circulation of content.
She said MILAP would continue expanding its school and community programmes to equip more Nigerians with the critical thinking and technical skills needed to navigate the changing information environment.
The organisation’s goal, she added, is to ensure that citizens can benefit from artificial intelligence while recognising its potential risks and maintaining responsible information-sharing practices.
