News
Fifty Editors for NGE- EU Workshop on Combating Fake News
Those to make presentations at the programme are Mr. Azu Isiekwene, Executive Vice Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, LEADERSHIP Newspapers and Dr. David Ajikobi, Executive Director, Africa Check.
• NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the European Union (EU) are collaborating through a one-day training programme for editors and media executives to stem the negative impact of fake news, disinformation and misinformation in the Nigeria media landscape.
In a statement signed by the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba and the General- Secretary, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild said that the training programme, taking place in Lagos (July 25, 2025), with institutional support by the EU, is informed by the growing concern that fake news has a huge capacity to damage the credibility of journalists and the media, if not checked.‘
’The EU and the NGE will organize a one-training programme for editors and media executives across different media platforms.
The objective of the programme is to equip editors with the necessary skills and knowledge required to identify and debunk misinformation, fake news, disinformation, promoting accurate/trustworthy reporting, and imbibing the discipline of verification in news reporting – in the Nigerian media industry’, the NGE stated.
Giving a background and justification to the programme, the professional body of editors and media executives in Nigeria said that the spread of misinformation, fake news and disinformation has become a major concern in Nigeria, with fake news and propaganda threatening to undermine the credibility of the mass media and the stability of the country.
It added: ‘’It is a common knowledge that editors/media executives play a critical role – in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information published in their respective media organizations.‘’
However, recent experiences have proved that editors need the necessary technical skills and training to effectively identify and debunk misinformation.’’
The Guild explained further that the proliferation of social media and other digital platforms has made it easier for misinformation and fake news to spread quickly, often with devastating consequences.
According to the Guild, ‘’the Nigerian media industry requires accurate and trustworthy reporting to promote informed decision-making, stability and holding government at all levels to account.
Editors play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information published in their respective media outfits.’’
On the expected outcomes of the training programme, the NGE said it aims to improve fact-checking skills and knowledge to effectively identify and debunk misinformation; enhance accuracy and reliability of reporting in the Nigerian media landscape.
Targeting 50 editors from various media houses, including print, online, and broadcast media, the statement added that the programme is expected to promote informed decision-making among the Nigerian public through access to accurate and trustworthy information.
Those to make presentations at the programme are Mr. Azu Isiekwene, Executive Vice Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, LEADERSHIP Newspapers and Dr. David Ajikobi, Executive Director, Africa Check.
They will treat such topics as “Principles of Fact-Checking: Understanding the Role of Editors in Fact-checking And the Principles of Accuracy, Fairness, and Transparency;” Identifying Misinformation and Disinformation: Analyzing Examples of Misinformation, Desinformation and Fake News” and “Fact-Checking Tools and Resources: Overview of Fact-checking Tools; Analyzing Complex Fact-checking Scenarios.
“The statement said that the EU Ambassador to Nigeria/ECOWAS, His Excellency, Gautier Mignot, will declare the training program open after a brief remarks.
For: Nigerian Guild of EditorsEze AnabaPresident, NGE Onuoha UkehGeneral Secretary, NGE
News
South African kills Nigerian bar worker
Olaleye was allegedly shot by a South African national following an argument over whether a drinking glass should be taken outside the bar.
• South African police
The Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) says Olatunde Olaleye, a 40-year-old father of two, has been shot dead in the country.
According to NAN, NUSA said Olaleye, an indigene of Ikere-Ekiti, was killed on September 21 while working at Spanata Bar and Grills in Mamelodi, Pretoria.
Smart Nwobi, NUSA president-general, in a statement on Thursday, said Olaleye was a husband and father of two children, adding that his death has left his family devastated.
He said the union is concerned by reports that Olaleye was allegedly shot by a South African national following an argument over whether a drinking glass should be taken outside the bar.
According to him, there were also reports that the suspect returned to the premises to threaten the bar’s management, with a promise that members of his crew would return.
Nwobi called for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We cannot continue to lose Nigerians under circumstances that leave families devastated and communities traumatised,” he said.
News
Nigerian Editors Brace for Democracy Protection Ahead of 2027 Elections
“As editors, we must remain above board in an increasingly polarised environment. We must not become agents of disorder. Neither should we display contradictory tendencies that cause the citizenry to question our credibility,” Anaba said.
Enugu|•L-R Prof Pat Utomi; Prof Chinyere Okunna and Eze Anaba President Nigerian Guild of Editors at the 22nd All Nigerian Editors Conference in Enugu. Photo. Nwankpa Chijioke
Nigerian editors have been urged to protect the credibility of the ballot and help safeguard democracy as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The call was made by Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, in his welcome address at the 22nd Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference, which opened today in Enugu.
The conference is themed, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.”
Anaba said the media, alongside other critical institutions, had a responsibility to nurture democracy by ensuring that voters were adequately informed and that electoral outcomes reflected the choices of the people.
According to him, the ballot can only fulfil its democratic purpose when voters have access to credible information and are able to make their choices freely, without intimidation or undue influence.
He urged editors and journalists to uphold verification, independence, accuracy, fairness, accountability and courage, particularly in an era of social media, artificial intelligence, deepfakes and the rapid spread of misinformation.
“As editors, we must remain above board in an increasingly polarised environment. We must not become agents of disorder. Neither should we display contradictory tendencies that cause the citizenry to question our credibility,” Anaba said.
He stressed that the media’s overarching responsibility was to serve the public good and help ensure that government derived its legitimacy from the consent of the people.
News
Works Minister Orders Tinubu’s Pictures On First Niger Bridge
“The President has worked so hard and we need to reward his hard work by decorating this bridge with his pictures.”
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the removal of illegal advertisements from the rehabilitated First Niger Bridge and their replacement with pictures of President Bola Tinubu, saying the display would recognise the President’s work on infrastructure.
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of ongoing rehabilitation works on the bridge linking Anambra and Delta states.
He said the bridge was expected to reopen to motorists next week, subject to the completion of critical structural work.
“Once we are done with work on this bridge, I want all the illegal adverts on this bridge removed. Anyone who wants to advertise should apply to the Ministry of Works. For now, the bridge will be decorated with the pictures of President Tinubu,” Umahi said.
“The President has worked so hard and we need to reward his hard work by decorating this bridge with his pictures.”
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