Southwest journalists, others trained on AI, civic accountability, digital literacy

FactCheckAfrica, through its Digital Democracy Lab project supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Catalyst Grant, has trained more than 500 journalists, youth civic actors, human rights advocates, lecturers, nonprofit leaders, students, feminists, and community organisers across four Southwest state capitals—IbadAN, Osogbo, Ado-Ekiti, and Akure—on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence for governance and […]

FactCheckAfrica, through its Digital Democracy Lab project supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Catalyst Grant, has trained more than 500 journalists, youth civic actors, human rights advocates, lecturers, nonprofit leaders, students, feminists, and community organisers across four Southwest state capitals—IbadAN, Osogbo, Ado-Ekiti, and Akure—on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence for governance and public accountability.

Over recent weeks, the organisation has deepened public understanding of emerging AI technologies and demonstrated how these tools can enhance civic participation, strengthen oversight, and combat information disorder.

Although the workshops were designed to introduce participants to AI fundamentals, their impact has extended far beyond the training rooms. The sessions have sparked behavioural shifts, boosted local civic engagement, and inspired citizen-driven accountability initiatives that did not exist prior to the programme.

One of the most notable outcomes emerged from the Osogbo workshop, where participants formed thematic accountability clusters focusing on sectors such as health, education, agriculture, youth and sports, works and infrastructure, and technology and innovation. These groups have begun reviewing state budget lines, detecting discrepancies in spending patterns, and drafting questions for submission to relevant ministries. Similar clusters have now been replicated across the other states.

In Osun State, a participant-led effort gained momentum after youth advocate Joseph Adebayo—who took part in the training—initiated a petition aimed at strengthening youth accountability engagement.

“We had an engagement during the workshop, and I felt we needed to push it further,” Joseph said. “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 action has since inspired others across the region to launch similar monitoring efforts in their areas of interest.

Speaking on the significance of the workshops, Lukman Adeoti, Project Lead of the Digital Democracy Lab, said the initiative is reshaping how citizens interact with government in the digital era. He added that several youth groups have already signalled interest in joining the upcoming Youth AI Literacy Network—a regional hub being developed to foster collaboration, learning, and civic-tech innovation.

The sessions were hands-on, exposing participants to real public documents, including state budgets and expenditure reports from Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti, while also introducing them to AI-assisted verification tools.

For many, it was their first encounter with actual budget documents. Amodu Afusat, a participant with disability from Ondo State, said: “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.”

FactCheckAfrica said this shift in mindset is among the strongest outcomes of the Digital Democracy Lab.

The project is now preparing for its next phase, which includes intensive bootcamps and the first Youth AI Forum, where innovative civic-tech ideas from across the region will be showcased.