TheCable

‘Fisayo Soyombo, pioneer editor at TheCable; Lolade Nwanze, editorial manager at The Guardian Nigeria digital department, will be speaking at the Goethe-Institut Nigeria conference on fake news. 

Victor Mathias, Channels Television anchor and producer; Mayowa Tijani, business and development editor at TheCable; and David Ajikobi, Nigeria editor of Africa Check, will also be facilitating sessions at the event.

The Goethe-Institut Nigeria says it is revving up plans to hold two events this October that are designed to lend a critical voice and a Nigerian perspective to the global campaign against the alarming increase of fake news worldwide. 

The first event, which is entitled “the 101 of Fake News & Fact-Finding in Nigeria”, is a one-day conference that is specifically designed for journalists with the aim to examine and discuss various aspects of ‘Fake News’. 

Five notable journalists and fact-checkers will lead highly interactive sessions that focus on a wide spectrum of topics.

The sessions range from more theoretical sessions in which the characteristics and effects of Fake News in Nigeria will be identified and debated, to a more practical session that provides tools in order to spot and combat the spread of disinformation in the newsroom and beyond.

The conference takes place on Wednesday, October 16th, from 10am to 6pm, in the Event Hall of the Goethe Institute.

According to Goethe-Institut, attendance is by invitation only and limited, but journalists and other members of the public are invited to register, by mailing [email protected].

In contrast, the second event, which will be a panel discussion, entitled “Fake or Fact? Disinformation & (New) Media in Nigeria” is open to the public.

It is organised in partnership with the Alliance Francaise de Lagos,  and takes place at the AAF/Mike Adenuga Centre (9, Osborne Road, Ikoyi) on October 22, at 7pm prompt.

The panel discussion aims to shed more light on the impact and effect of Fake News in Nigeria.

The same set of speakers – Lolade Nwanze, David Ajikobi, Victor Mathias, ‘Fisayo Soyombo & Mayowa Tijani – will re-assemble to debate the following questions: (1) Why and how are fake news spread?, (2) What role do fake news play in current politics? & (3) What can be done to combat fake news?

The audience will have a chance to engage the panelists in a Q & A session.