Tag: FactCheck Africa

Founder of FactCheck Africa, Abideen Olasupo, has been selected alongside 22 other participants for the 2025 AI Journalism Lab Leadership Cohort hosted by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY) in collaboration with Microsoft.

The programme, which began with an in-person session, will run virtually from January to April 2025.

The 23-member cohort includes journalists, media executives, and technologists from 12 countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and the United States.

In a statement by the organisers, the training was described as a gathering of “trailblasers at the intersection of journalism and technology,” with participants poised to navigate the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) while fostering innovation and driving positive change in the media industry.

Speaking with THE NATION, Olasupo expressed his intention to explore cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the future of journalism. 

He pledged to share the knowledge gained to drive positive change in Africa’s media industry.

“I look forward to collaborating with global media leaders to create synergies that will further elevate digital journalism and fact-checking. I’m also committed to sharing the knowledge gained through this programme to foster positive change in Africa’s media industry.

“This programme perfectly aligns with FactCheck Africa’s mission to improve media literacy, promote critical thinking, and provide reliable fact-checking services to the African public,” he said.

Read Also: FactCheck Africa convener to speak at One Young World summit in Canada

He added that the training would address key challenges such as deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and misinformation while equipping participants with AI-driven tools to enhance journalistic accuracy, streamline workflows, and increase newsroom transparency.

Olasupo’s selection comes in recognition of his contributions to fact-checking in Africa. In April 2024, FactCheck Africa launched ‘MyAIFactchecker,’ Africa’s first AI-powered fact-checking platform, which verifies news, social media posts, and online content in multiple languages, including English, Swahili, and French.

The organisation also introduced an AI Journalism Fellowship, a newsroom AI adoption toolkit, and gamified media literacy tools for children to combat misinformation.

The convener of FactCheck Africa, Abideen Olasupo, has been chosen as a delegate speaker at the 2024 One Young World Summit in Montréal, Canada. 

The summit will run from tomorrow until September 21, bringing together 2,000 young leaders and experts from over 190 countries and 250 organizations to tackle global challenges, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI).

Olasupo will lead a session titled “How Can Humanity Make AI a Force for Good?” 

The discussion will explore the complexities of AI, including its ethical development and potential for positive societal impact. 

Key topics will include the strategic integration of AI across various sectors, ethical frameworks, and future trends and implications of AI technology.

Reflecting on his upcoming role, Olasupo expressed his excitement about the opportunity to lead a significant conversation on AI. 

Read Also: Primary school teachers embark on indefinite strike in FCT over unmet demands

He is set to offer critical insights into AI’s role in shaping the future and addressing societal issues.

“AI has the potential to transform industries and societies, but it is vital that we develop and implement it with a strong ethical framework,” Olasupo stated. 

“I look forward to collaborating with fellow leaders and sharing strategies on how we can responsibly harness AI for the greater good,” he said. 

Olasupo also highlighted the milestones achieved by MyAIfactChecker, including selection for the Google Startup Challenge, partnerships with Stanford University, and recognition by Meta. 

“These are testaments to the credibility of the platform. We’ve trained over 41 journalists across West Africa, and presenting our solution on the global stage at One Young World is a tremendous honor. I am excited to discuss ethical concerns and regulations around AI in Africa and globally.”

One Young World is renowned for gathering young leaders to address urgent global issues and foster social impact, providing a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and youth empowerment.