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<p>Islamic clerics and scholars drawn across Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been urged to play a more active role in combatting misinformation and promoting responsible information sharing as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.</p><div class="tlFed4ew" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>The call was made at a two-day capacity-building workshop on “Building Resilient Communities through Fact-Checking and Media and Information Literacy,” organised by Alkalanci in Abuja.<br />
The workshop brought together 40 Islamic clerics and scholars from across Northern Nigeria to strengthen their capacity to identify, verify and counter false information within their communities. The programme was supported by the MacArthur Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).<br />
In his welcome remarks, Alkalanci Editor, Alhassan Bala, described the workshop as both timely and necessary, particularly in light of preparations for Nigeria&#8217;s 2027 general elections and the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence-generated misinformation.<br />
He warned that misinformation and disinformation often increase during election periods, while foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) have become an emerging concern globally.<br />
“We are also in a time where AI-generated pictures, videos and audio, popularly known as deepfakes, are becoming increasingly sophisticated. This is another important reason for community leaders to understand the information environment and learn practical ways to protect themselves and their communities from falsehood,” Bala said.<br />
According to him, Islamic clerics remain among the most trusted voices in society, making them critical partners in promoting information integrity.<br />
“The sermons you deliver, the lessons you teach, and the words you speak carry enormous influence. For millions of people, your voices are voices of guidance and authority. With such trust comes a profound responsibility to ensure that the information shared with communities is true, verified and beneficial,” he said.<br />
Bala noted that Alkalanci has previously organised similar workshops for Islamic clerics and religious leaders in Sokoto, Kano, Gombe and Maradi in the Republic of Niger. The organisation also conducted a dedicated workshop for female Islamic scholars, teachers and religious leaders in Kaduna State as part of efforts to strengthen community resilience against misinformation.<br />
Speaking to journalists, Alkalanci Programme Manager, Victoria Bamas, said engaging religious leaders is critical because of their influence and credibility within communities.<br />
“Religious leaders remain among the most trusted voices in our communities. By equipping them with media and information literacy skills, we are strengthening their ability to guide their congregations and communities towards accurate information and away from harmful misinformation,” she said.<br />
Bamas added that the rapid evolution of the information ecosystem requires citizens to develop the skills needed to critically assess and verify information before sharing it.<br />
“We are in a time where the means of distributing information is no longer in the hands of a few. Anyone with a mobile phone and internet connection can create and share content with large audiences. This makes media and information literacy more important than ever, as people need the skills to navigate the information space and identify credible and accurate information,” she said.<br />
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, the NSCIA Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, said misinformation, disinformation and other forms of information disorder have contributed to misunderstanding among communities, heightened religious and ethnic tensions, undermined public trust and, in some instances, fuelled insecurity and violence.<br />
“We live in an era where information travels faster than ever before. Through social media platforms, messaging applications, blogs and online news outlets, information reaches millions of people within seconds. While these technologies have created tremendous opportunities for communication and education, they have also enabled the rapid spread of falsehoods, rumours, manipulated content and divisive propaganda,” he said.<br />
He noted that Islamic teachings emphasise the importance of verifying information before acting upon it.<br />
“Religious leaders must become champions of truth, peace and informed citizenship. They must encourage communities to pause before sharing information, verify before believing, and seek evidence before making judgments,” he added.<br />
Participants received practical training on understanding misinformation, disinformation and fake news; recognising biased and manipulative content; fact-checking techniques and verification tools; artificial intelligence and information integrity; and the role of faith leaders in promoting responsible communication.</p>
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<p>The workshop also featured discussions on how mosques and religious institutions can serve as trusted centres of information and guidance, helping communities respond more effectively to false narratives and harmful rumours.</p>
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