By Angela Atabo
ABUJA, Nigeria — Amnesty International has trained micro-influencers from three states drawn across three geopolitical zones in a pioneering effort to promote human rights, fact-check information, counter misinformation and encourage responsible digital engagement, especially ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The training, which held on Tuesday in Abuja, brought together content creators from Lagos, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with funding provided by the German Embassy and implementation by Amnesty International. The Programme Manager of Amnesty International, Barbara Magaji, said the initiative is a strategic response to the growing influence of digital media in shaping public opinion and civic participation. She noted that the project is being piloted across six states, with three states selected for community-level volunteers and another three selected for micro-influencers. The micro-influencer component is currently being implemented in the FCT, Lagos and Enugu, each of which represents a different region of the country, giving the programme a wide national perspective. The participants were selected through a public application process based on predetermined criteria. According to Magaji, the programme is expected to train 20 micro-influencers in each state, making a total of 60 influencers across the three states. The initiative is a reflection of the increasing role of social media platforms in political education, electioneering and civic life in Nigeria. With more people consuming news on platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, the ability of an individual to influence opinions has grown exponentially. The training is therefore designed to help these digital figures understand human rights issues, fact-check information before sharing, and communicate responsibly with their growing audiences. In the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, such capacities are considered essential for reducing the incidence of misinformation and disinformation that often characterise election cycles in the country. Participants at the Abuja training went through sessions on digital fact-checking, identifying manipulated content, understanding hate speech, ethical reporting, and promoting accountability for human rights violations. The programme also highlighted the need for content creators to serve as bridges between duty-bearers and ordinary citizens, ensuring that the voices of ordinary people are heard and that public institutions are held to account.
Magaji explained that the micro-influencer component represents only a part of the broader project, which is being piloted across six states. She stated that participants were selected through a transparent public application process designed to ensure inclusivity and diversity. “We are expected to have 20 micro-influencers in each state, making 60 for the three states,” she said. She emphasised that the initiative focuses not only on people who already consider themselves human rights activists, but also on individuals who understand that human rights affect every member of society. According to her, the digital space is now one of the most important arenas for civic engagement, and influencers are in a unique position to shape narratives, correct falsehoods and amplify marginalised voices. “For us, it is about engaging diverse people to promote human rights because human rights are everyone’s concern,” Magaji stated. She added that previous approaches to human rights advocacy sometimes concentrated on specific groups and excluded others, which could create problems. The decision to work with micro-influencers is based on the recognition that these individuals often command high levels of trust among their followers. Unlike mainstream celebrities or institutional spokespersons, micro-influencers are perceived as more authentic, relatable and accessible. Their audiences are often younger, more engaged and more likely to act on recommendations. The training is therefore seen as a means of embedding human rights values within the everyday content that these influencers already produce. Magaji said the programme is not just about the period of the training; it is intended to have an enduring effect. She urged participants to continue using their platforms to promote human rights beyond the duration of the programme, stressing that sustainable advocacy requires a network of committed and informed individuals. “Amnesty alone cannot promote human rights. We call on every other person to do that, and we hope they continue to engage on those issues in the course of their work,” she said. The funding support from the German Embassy, she noted, demonstrates international solidarity with civil society and the importance of digital literacy in democratic governance. She also revealed that the programme may include follow-up components such as mentorship, collaborative campaigns and further skills development, depending on the success of the pilot phase.
Magaji called on participants to see themselves as multipliers of knowledge and agents of change within their communities. She said the training was designed to be practical and interactive, with case studies, simulations and hands-on exercises to help participants identify fake news, verify sources and understand the impact of harmful rhetoric. They were also introduced to national and international human rights instruments, as well as the responsibilities of governments to protect the rights of citizens. The programme is particularly targeted at young people, who constitute a large proportion of online audiences in Nigeria. Young Nigerians have often shown a strong desire for social justice and political accountability, as seen in movements such as #EndSARS. However, they are also vulnerable to being misled by false information and manipulative narratives. By equipping micro-influencers with reliable tools and knowledge, Amnesty International hopes to create a new generation of digital citizens who can navigate the information ecosystem with discernment and integrity. Magaji noted that the programme is being implemented through an inclusive recruitment process that sought people with varying backgrounds, interests and levels of experience. The rationale is to create a community of advocates who can speak to diverse audiences in their own languages and cultural contexts. She said the presence of influencers from the FCT, Lagos and Enugu ensures that the programme captures urban and semi-urban perspectives from the north-central, southwest and southeast regions. The training also addressed the special responsibilities that come with having a large audience on social media. Influencers were reminded that their words can either contribute to social cohesion or exacerbate division. They were encouraged to use their platforms to challenge misinformation, avoid spreading unverified content, and promote messages of tolerance and inclusion. The sessions also covered online safety and digital security, helping participants to protect their accounts from hackers, state surveillance and coordinated disinformation campaigns. Magaji stressed that human rights are not abstract ideals but are rooted in the everyday realities of ordinary people. She therefore encouraged the participants to carry the message of the training into their content creation, whether they are discussing politics, entertainment, sports, religion, gender, or education.
Amnesty International’s Media and Communications Manager, Dooshima Tsee, said the increasing use of digital platforms makes it essential for content creators to communicate responsibly. She noted that social media and digital spaces have become central to the way Nigerians interact with the world and engage with public issues. “The reason why this is really important is because we are going more and more into the digital space. For every area of life, you open social media or digital platforms and you find people talking about it,” Tsee said. She underscored that the training is especially important ahead of the 2027 elections, given the prevalence of misinformation, disinformation and inciting speech online. She stated that influencers need to understand how to discuss political and civic issues without triggering violence or inflaming public emotions. “Elections in Nigeria can tend to be a bit volatile. So, making sure that we are equipping people who are already online and already having followings with the skills they need to talk about human rights issues, politics and the civic space in a way that does not incite violence is very important,” she said. Tsee explained that digital platforms have both positive and negative potential. They can be used to campaign for change, expose injustice and build political awareness, but they can also be used to spread falsehoods, manipulate public opinion and deepen ethnic and religious divides. The training seeks to amplify the positive features of digital media while reducing the risks of harmful use. She added that media ethics and journalistic standards are now necessary skills for influencers, not only for professional journalists. The programme teaches participants to verify the authenticity of images and videos, check sources, and refrain from publishing content that could endanger lives. Tsee also highlighted the importance of promoting accurate information in indigenous languages and local dialects, as misinformation often spreads faster in communities where information is not available in the major official languages. She said the initiative is not intended to create censors but to encourage civility, accuracy and accountability in online discussions. She thanked the German Embassy for its support and described the project as a model for other civil society organisations working in the digital space. She also called on the participants to collaborate with one another, share knowledge, and continue to support each other even after the training has ended. The training is expected to be evaluated, and if successful, it could be scaled to other states and perhaps adopted as a permanent feature of Amnesty International’s digital advocacy strategy in Nigeria.
The training was widely welcomed by participants, who described it as timely, insightful and practical. One of the beneficiaries, Tolulope Gbenro, a social impact consultant, said the training would help participants advocate more effectively on human rights, climate action, youth development and governance. “With the governorship and presidential elections approaching, it is important for young people and Nigerians generally to have their voices heard, make the right decisions and hold leaders accountable,” she said. Gbenro said she found the sessions on fact-checking and ethical storytelling particularly useful. She said content creators have a responsibility to ensure that the information they share does not cause panic, division or violence. She noted that many young people depend on social media for information, and influencers therefore occupy a position of trust. This trust, she said, should not be abused. Gbenro also highlighted the link between human rights and sustainable development, noting that respect for fundamental freedoms creates an enabling environment for social progress, economic growth and political stability. She promised to integrate the values learned at the training into her work and to encourage her followers to be more active, informed and responsible citizens. Another participant, Great Ibigwe, a law student at the University of Abuja, said the training would enable him to improve the way he communicates information to young people across different digital platforms. “I have a large audience of young people and they trust me. I will use this opportunity to learn as much as I can and make sure the right information is passed on to them,” he said. Ibigwe said he is passionate about issues affecting Nigerian youths, including unemployment, education, access to justice and political participation. He added that he would use the knowledge gained to expand his reach, improve his storytelling and advocate for systemic change. His comments echo the ambitions of many young content creators who are seeking to transition from entertainment-focused posting to socially impactful journalism and advocacy. Several other participants shared similar sentiments, saying the training exposed them to new tools and approaches for fact-checking and reporting. They said they now understand the dangers of sharing unverified content and the ethical responsibilities that come with a large following. They also appreciated the opportunity to meet and network with other influencers from different parts of the country, describing the experience as a valuable platform for building partnerships and sharing knowledge. Many left the training with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to use their online presence to advocate for truth, transparency and human rights.
The Amnesty International micro-influencer training in Abuja represents a strategic investment in the future of digital civic engagement in Nigeria. As the world moves increasingly online, the struggle for human rights is being shaped in important ways by social media platforms, where narratives are created, challenged and redefined. In a country as diverse and digitally active as Nigeria, the ability of influencers to shape public opinion carries both enormous promise and significant risk. The programme therefore aims to create a strong corps of ethically grounded content creators who understand human rights principles and are committed to responsible digital behaviour. By partnering with the German Embassy and focusing on Lagos, Enugu and the FCT, Amnesty International is building a foundation for a nationwide network of digital advocates. The choice of these states acknowledges the important role of social media influencers in urban centres and across regional divides. It also underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to advocacy, one that combines the efforts of grassroots volunteers with the reach of online personalities. The project is expected to yield important lessons for civil society, government institutions and international development partners working to strengthen democracy and counter disinformation. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, the work of these newly trained influencers will be put to the test. Will they be able to counter the flood of fake news and malicious content that marked previous election cycles? Will they be able to elevate the quality of public debate and ensure that citizens make informed choices? The answers to these questions will depend, in part, on how effectively the participants translate their training into practice. The success of the initiative will also depend on the broader environment, including access to digital platforms, protection for online voices and the willingness of political actors to engage in issue-based campaigns. For now, the 60 trained micro-influencers are expected to serve as a catalyst, spreading awareness, correcting misrepresentations and encouraging a culture of accountability. Amnesty International has made clear that human rights are not the preserve of any single organisation. They belong to everyone, and everyone has a role to play. In that spirit, the training is both a call to action and an opportunity for transformation. It is a reminder that the power to change society lies not only in the hands of those in government, but also in the hands of those who hold the tools of communication and the will to speak truth to power. (NAN) (NAN)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu