OBAJI Foundation Opens Application for Five-Day Counter-Disinformation Workshop for Nigerian Journalists
The OBAJI Development Foundation (ODF) has officially opened applications for a five-day residential workshop designed to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian journalists in the fight against disinformation and foreign information manipulation. The training programme, titled the Nigerian Counter-Disinformation Capacity-building Workshop, is scheduled to take place in Abuja and will select 20 qualified journalists from across the country. According to the foundation, the initiative is a direct response to the growing threat posed by disinformation campaigns, particularly those driven by Foreign Influence and Manipulation of Information (FIMI), which have increasingly targeted African nations. The workshop aims to equip selected participants with the practical skills, analytical tools, and strategic frameworks necessary to identify, examine, and counter false narratives while promoting ethical, fact-based journalism. The application window remains open until September 18, 2026, and interested journalists from print, electronic, or online media organisations are strongly encouraged to apply through the foundation’s designated application portal.
The announcement comes at a time when disinformation has emerged as one of the most formidable challenges to media integrity and democratic governance across the African continent. Nigeria, as a regional media hub and the continent’s most populous democracy, is especially vulnerable to manipulative campaigns designed to exploit social fractures, undermine public trust, and interfere with electoral processes. Foreign actors and domestic threat operatives often deploy sophisticated tactics, including fake news websites, coordinated inauthentic behaviour on social media, manipulated images and videos, and false narratives tailored to local languages and cultural sensitivities. These campaigns are not merely random misinformation; they are deliberate, systematic efforts to shape public opinion, destabilise institutions, and influence political outcomes. The OBAJI Development Foundation recognises that Nigerian journalists are on the front lines of this battle, often serving as the first line of defence against falsehoods that can spread rapidly across communities. By focusing on FIMI, the workshop acknowledges the transnational dimension of disinformation and the need for Nigerian media professionals to understand how foreign interference operates through local intermediaries, paid influencers, and algorithmically amplified content.
The workshop has been carefully designed to deliver tangible outcomes through an intensive, interactive curriculum. Participants will be introduced to cutting-edge digital tools and methodologies for detecting disinformation, including reverse image search, metadata analysis, social network monitoring, and open-source intelligence techniques. Beyond technical skills, the training will enhance participants’ understanding of the strategies employed by threat actors, with a specific emphasis on how these tactics are applied within the African context, particularly during elections in Nigeria. The curriculum will also promote the development of collaborative fact-checking and investigative journalism networks, encouraging participants to work together across newsrooms and borders to verify information and expose coordinated manipulation. Furthermore, a major goal of the workshop is to strengthen media literacy among the broader public, helping journalists understand their role not just as information providers but as educators who can equip citizens to critically evaluate the content they encounter. Ultimately, the programme seeks to rebuild and reinforce public trust in Nigerian journalism, which has been eroded by the proliferation of fake news and the perceived politicisation of media outlets. The foundation believes that a well-trained, independent, and fact-driven press is essential for the health of Nigerian democracy and the stability of the region.
As with any capacity-building initiative, the OBAJI Development Foundation has set clear eligibility criteria to ensure that the selected participants are well-positioned to benefit from and contribute to the programme. Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional experience practicing journalism, whether in print, electronic, or online media in Nigeria. They must currently work for a reputable media or fact-checking organisation within the country and must obtain the official endorsement of their organisation’s editor or chief executive. This requirement underscores the foundation’s commitment to institutional impact, ensuring that the skills gained during the workshop are shared within newsrooms and sustained beyond the five-day training period. In addition, applicants must demonstrate a willingness to devote time to producing disinformation research and analysis after the completion of the workshop. This follow-up component indicates that the programme is not intended as a one-off event but as the beginning of an ongoing engagement with a network of trained journalists who can contribute to counter-disinformation efforts in Nigeria. Furthermore, intending participants are required to provide proof of previously published fact-checking content from the last 12 months, ensuring that all attendees have a baseline familiarity with verification processes and a track record of engaging with misinformation issues.
The application process has been structured to be straightforward, with all submissions expected to be completed before the September 18, 2026 deadline. Interested journalists are directed to the official application link provided by the OBAJI Development Foundation, where they can submit their details, professional history, organisational endorsement, and samples of their published fact-checking work. The foundation has confirmed that the workshop is fully residential, meaning that selected participants will be provided with accommodation and related support for the duration of the five-day programme in Abuja. This residential arrangement is designed to foster deeper engagement, networking, and collaboration among participants, free from the distractions of daily work routines. It also allows for evening sessions, group assignments, and structured discussions that are essential for building a cohesive cohort of fact-checking professionals. While the foundation has not publicly disclosed the exact venue or dates for the workshop beyond noting that it will be hosted in Abuja, it is expected that successful applicants will be notified in advance with full logistics. Given the limited number of slots — only 20 journalists will be selected — the selection process is expected to be highly competitive. The foundation encourages all qualified journalists, regardless of gender, region, or media house size, to apply and take advantage of this unique professional development opportunity.
By investing in the capabilities of Nigerian journalists, the OBAJI Development Foundation is making a strategic contribution to the resilience of democratic institutions in Africa. Disinformation is not merely a digital nuisance; it is a weaponised tool that can incite violence, suppress voter participation, and destabilise entire nations. In Nigeria, where ethnic, religious, and regional divisions are often exacerbated by inflammatory narratives, the need for rigorous, fact-based journalism has never been more urgent. The skills imparted through this workshop will empower journalists to deconstruct false narratives, expose the actors behind manipulation campaigns, and provide citizens with accurate information needed to make informed decisions. Moreover, by fostering a collaborative network of fact-checkers, the programme aims to create a sustainable ecosystem of truth-tellers who can support one another in the ongoing struggle against disinformation. The OBAJI Development Foundation’s initiative serves as a model for other African countries facing similar threats, demonstrating the importance of targeted capacity-building in safeguarding media integrity. Nigerian journalists who meet the eligibility requirements are urged to submit their applications before the deadline, as this workshop represents a significant opportunity to enhance their skills, expand their networks, and contribute meaningfully to the protection of democratic processes in Nigeria and beyond.
