FactCheckAfrica Launches AI to Combat Fake News, to Begin Fellowship

• Africa’s leading fact checking platform, FactCheck Africa, has launched an AI-powered platform to combat the proliferation of misinformation in Nigeria
• The AI, named MyAIFactChecker, will be able to to operate in Africa major local languages, which will make it accessible and operable by many
• The organisation noted that its intention is to cripple the burgeoning influence of misinformation and disinformation in the continent

Africa’s top anti-fake news digital platform, FactCheckAfrica, has announced the launch of an AI-infused platform to assist journalists and ordinary citizens in verifying the accuracy of information.

The organization, an initiative of BrainBuilder Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), a non-profit organization based in Nigeria, is funded and supported by the UK’s British Early Childhood Education Research Association (BECERA) and the US State Department.

FactCheckAfrica’s new AI is free and accessible to anyone with phone and data.
Image: Getty Images X/FactC_AfricaSource: Twitter

The organisation was founded in 2022 to address the unchecked rapid spread of misinformation and propaganda across the continent.

The innovative platform was made public on Monday, April 22, with the aim of completely transforming how Nigerians and Africans approach suspicious news.

Abideen Olasupo, the Global Director of BBYDI, stated that the innovation, MyAIFactChecker, is the result of a long period of mental and physical investment to bring about what is available today, all with the betterment of society at heart.

Olasupo shared that the platform features a user-friendly interface and is embedded with a responsive chatbot, allowing for convenient and fast verification of claims originating from anywhere, whether social media or other online news sources.

He said:

“It is worthy to note that 2024 is a year of elections in Africa as about 24 countries on the continent will hold elections this year. During electioneering periods, there is always a proliferation of fake news, and its attendant consequences could negatively impact the electoral process. With the launch of MyAIFactChecker, we are poised to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after elections in these affected countries”

FactCheckAfrica AI Fellowship

FactCheckAfrica announced during the launch that it had initiated a 3-month AI Journalism Fellowship aimed at equipping the best minds in the West African continent with the skills to effectively use the cutting-edge AI-enabled platform.

The Executive Director of BBYDI, Nurah Jimoh, also mentioned that the organization organized a CivicTech Hackathon last year to address voter apathy.

She said:

“We also launched evit.ng to track and report violence pre and post-election. We also unveiled conflictreport.org to curb the farmer-herders crisis in the northern part of the country”

Source: TheTalk.NG

“Trying to Do Same Thing”: Drunk Police Officer Cuts Off Pregnant Wife’s Hand In Plateau

A drunk police officer identified as Ibrahim Shagari attacked his pregnant wife with a cutlass in Plateau state Shagari cut off the hand of his pregnant wife, with whom he has three children on Monday, April 29, 2024 The Plateau police command has concluded the trial of Shagari for domestic violence after the incident TheTalk.NG … Continue reading here ▶

INTERPOL Appoints Nigerian Police Commissioner As Head of Cybercrime Units in Africa

A Nigerian Police Commissioner, CP Ifeanyi Henry Uche, has gotten a continental appointment from the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) INTERPOL appointed Uche as the Chairman of the African Heads of Cybercrime Units after the tenure of Ratjindua Tjivikua, head of Cybercrime of Namibia expired The African Heads of Cybercrime Units comprised heads of 54 countries … Continue reading here ▶

270k For Food: NLC Provides Breakdown of N615,000 Minimum Wage, Shares Full List of Expenses

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has provided a breakdown of the N615,000 minimum wage proposal According to the breakdown, the NLC expenses on food are N270,000 and N110,000 for transportation The NLC chairman, Joe Ajaero, said N615,000 captured the monthly cost of living for the average Nigerian family TheTalk.NG journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 … Continue reading here ▶

UTME 2024: Senate Speaks on New Minimum Age for University Admission in Nigeria

Nigerians would now heave a sigh of relief as the Senate reaffirms the 16-year age limit for University admissions in Nigeria The development arose following the outcome of the just-concluded results of some UTME candidates in the just-concluded exams after the minister of education disclosed that there will be a review of the minimum entry … Continue reading here ▶

UTME: 16-Years Minimum Age Requirement for Varsity Admission Signed As Law? Senate Speaks

Nigerians would now heave a sigh of relief as the Senate reaffirms the 16-year age limit for University admissions in Nigeria The development arose following the outcome of the just concluded dresults of some UTME candidates in the just-concluded exams after the minister of education disclosed that there will be a review of the minimum … Continue reading here ▶