The Federal Government has approved the creation of Naija Falsehood Buster, a national hub designed to combat fake news and misinformation.
The project, funded through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFund) 2024 National Research Fund, will be hosted at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). It is among 158 research proposals approved this year.
Led by Dr Toyin Segun Onayinka, a new media specialist at FUOYE, the initiative will develop an AI-driven platform and database to track, classify, and visualise falsehoods circulating across Nigeria’s broadcast and digital media. The project will also map the role of on-air personalities and social media influencers in spreading misinformation.
Dr Onayinka said the interdisciplinary team, which includes researchers from FUOYE, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and the University of Jos, will combine machine learning, natural language processing and fieldwork to deliver the system within 24 months.
“This hub will provide real-time, locally trained AI tools and evidence-based guidance to strengthen media literacy, support fact-checking, and inform regulatory and policy interventions that protect national cohesion,” he said. Two other FUOYE researchers also secured NRF grants for studies on alternative energy from biomass and plant-derived drugs for cancer treatment.
