By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Dr. Tope Ojeme, a lecturer at Baze University, Abuja, has called on Artificial Intelligence (AI), developers across Africa to create innovative digital tools capable of detecting fake news and curbing unethical media practices.
Ojeme made this call during the closing ceremony of the Second Quarter Courses of the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA), held recently in Abuja.
His remarks were contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt by the Academy’s Registrar, Joseph Obari.
Presenting a paper titled “Beyond Debunking: Building a Culture of Media Integrity in Africa’s Next Century,” Dr. Ojeme stressed the urgent need to tackle the growing wave of misinformation and disinformation across the continent.
“We must empower African developers, engineers, and creators to build AI-powered fact-checking plugins for newsrooms and blockchain-based archives to safeguard journalistic content from tampering,” he said, adding that “These tools will also help secure open-data platforms, enabling citizens to demand accountability from their leaders.”
Ojeme warned that if left unchecked, the rise of disinformation could erode public trust, compromise democratic values, and allow dangerous myths and falsehoods to thrive.
“We could soon find ourselves in a world where fake cures go viral, conspiracy theories infiltrate classrooms, and elections are manipulated by digital bots,” he cautioned, adding that “This scenario poses a real threat to the integrity of public discourse and the stability of our societies.”
While acknowledging that technology has accelerated the spread of misinformation, the media scholar also noted that it holds significant potential to counter the menace.
He advocated for the use of AI algorithms that prioritize verified information, detect fabrications, and expose distorted facts.
Ojeme further highlighted the growing risks posed by deepfake technologies, stressing that manipulated videos and images could have severe implications for already fragile societies.
“This looming threat underscores the urgency of building systems of truth; including legal frameworks to protect truth-telling journalists and the establishment of ‘truth desks’ in media organisations,” he said.
He concluded by urging media professionals, policymakers, and developers to rise to the challenge and safeguard the future of information in Africa.
“We are living in an age of noise, where the loudest microphones command attention, speed supersedes sense, and volume overwhelms value,” Ojeme said. “There is a pressing need to confront this challenge head-on.”
