A group of Nigerian celebrities has joined forces with Gatefield, a public strategy and media firm, to launch a campaign aimed at addressing the growing menace of fake news and misinformation in the country. Supported by global philanthropic organization Luminate, the campaign, known as #FWDWithFacts, is designed to empower Nigerians with tools to identify and counter false information effectively.
In a statement shared with FRONTPAGE on Thursday, Shirley Ewang, Advocacy Lead for Gatefield, announced the collaboration, which includes prominent figures like Toolz, Linda Ejiofor, Elozonam, Folu Storms, Ibrahim Suleiman, Kiki Omeili, and JayOnAir. The initiative aims to educate the public about the dangers of fake news and demand greater accountability from social media platforms.
The campaign seeks to reach millions through mass media and grassroots engagements. Ewang highlighted the harmful effects of misinformation, citing a 2018 incident in Plateau State where a fake photo posted on Facebook sparked ethnic violence that resulted in the deaths of 12 people.
“Misinformation campaigns across Africa have increased by nearly 400% since 2022, with Nigeria disproportionately affected,” Ewang stated. She added that during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections, fact-checkers reported up to 100,000 false claims shared daily on social media platforms. The low level of media literacy among Nigerians, coupled with weak content moderation by social media companies, has exacerbated the spread of fake news, leading to confusion, division, and violence.
The campaign will also petition Big Tech companies to adopt stronger content moderation practices in Nigeria, similar to regulations like Europe’s Digital Services Act. Ewang criticized companies such as Meta and X (formerly Twitter) for reducing their content moderation efforts in Africa, which, she argued, makes it easier for misinformation to proliferate, especially during critical periods like elections.
Ewang stated, “Regulatory requirements like Europe’s Digital Services Act, which prioritize transparency and proactive moderation, should not be exclusive to the West. Social media platforms must address Africa’s challenges with the same urgency as they do in other regions.”
Kiki Omeili, a Nollywood actor and radio personality involved in the campaign, shared personal insights on the destructive impact of fake news. “I have personally seen families, careers, relationships, and reputations destroyed because of people spreading fake news online without facing any consequences. It is important that people think twice and verify information before contributing to such harm,” she said.
The #FWDWithFacts initiative will work to create awareness and promote critical thinking, aiming to curb the dangerous spread of false information. By involving celebrities and advocating for systemic changes in content moderation, the campaign hopes to foster a more informed and responsible public discourse in Nigeria.
