FactCheckAfrica, through its Digital Democracy Lab project supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Catalyst Grant, has conducted a series of AI Fundamentals Workshops across four state capitals in Southwest Nigeria, Ibadan, Osogbo, Ado-Ekiti, and Akure.
Over 500 hundred journalists, youth civic actors, human right activists, lecturers, non-profit founders, students, young feminists and community leaders were trained on responsible use of Artificial Intelligence for governance and accountability.
Over the past weeks, the organisation has strengthened public understanding of emerging AI technologies and demonstrated how such tools can support civic participation, public oversight, and the fight against information pollution.
While these workshops were designed to introduce participants to AI fundamentals, the sustained impact goes far beyond training. They are changing behaviours, influencing local civic participation, and inspiring citizen-led accountability initiatives that did not exist just a few months ago.
One of the most powerful impact stories emerged from the Osogbo session, where participants formed thematic accountability clusters across sectors: Health, Education, Agriculture, Youth & Sports, Works & Infrastructure, Technology & Innovation and so on. These groups have since begun reviewing state budget lines, identifying discrepancies in spending patterns, and drafting questions to be submitted to relevant ministries. And this action has been replicated in all other states as well.
In Osun, a participant-led initiative gained significant traction after Joseph Adebayo, a youth advocate and workshop participant, independently took action following the AI Fundamentals session.
Joseph explained: “We had an engagement during the workshop, and I felt we needed to push it further. I drafted a petition for young people to sign. Once we reach 100 signatures, we’ll attach it to a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Youth. This training gave us the courage to ask questions.”
His initiative has since inspired others across the Southwest region to begin similar civic monitoring actions in their sectors of interest.
Speaking about the significance of the workshops, Lukman Adeoti, Project Lead of the Digital Democracy Lab, said the initiative is reshaping how citizens engage government in the digital age.
Several youth groups have also signalled interest in joining the upcoming Youth AI Literacy Network, a regional hub being developed under the Digital Democracy Lab to foster collaboration, learning, and innovation.
The workshops were not theoretical. Participants engaged in real-world tasks, analyzing Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti State budgets; reviewing implementation & expenditure reports; and using AI-assisted verification tools.
Many admitted this was their first time handling actual public budget documents. Amodu Afusat, a PWD from Ondo state: “I had never seen a state budget before this training, talk less of knowing how to analyze it. Now I understand where to look, what to question, and what to track.”
This shift in mindset is one of the strongest outcomes of the Digital Democracy Lab.
The Digital Democracy Lab continues to build momentum as it prepares for its next phase: bootcamps, and the first Youth AI Forum, where civic-tech innovations from across the region will be showcased.