Nigeria’s Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy (PODES) has forged a pioneering alliance with Cyberpedia Internet Governance, AI powerhouse an African Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Cybersecurity corporation, to deploy cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools and grassroots networks in redefining civic participation.
This is in a strategic counterstrike against the global infodemic.
The collaboration, spearheaded by Otega Ogra, senior special assistant to the President, seeks to “reimagine civic communication in Nigeria,” according to official statements.
The announcement precedes Cyberpedia President Abiodun Sowemimo’s keynote address at the global CloudFest conference in Frankfurt, Germany.
The core objective of the partnership is to “strengthen the government’s digital resilience by equipping citizens with innovative tools to identify and counter misinformation in real-time.”
This initiative directly addresses the challenges posed by “disinformation, misinformation, and fractured digital attention,” as outlined in the official release.
The partnership rests on two key pillars: Mapping Public Sentiment, which involves “utilising artificial intelligence to capture real-time insights across Nigeria’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape,” acknowledging the complexities introduced by the nation’s over 400 languages; and Grassroots Empowerment, which focuses on “collaborating with local influencers, content creators, community leaders, and cultural ambassadors to co-develop relatable, engaging content that promotes clarity and national values, combats misinformation, and fosters constructive dialogue among citizens.”
“This initiative is not about controlling the narrative. It is about equipping Nigerians with the tools to lead their own informed conversations,” stated Otega Ogra.
“In an age of digital disruption, trust is the ultimate currency. Our goal is to build transparency by empowering Nigerians directly, meeting them on platforms where they already engage, debate, and form opinions,” he explained.
Abiodun Sowemimo, president of Cyberpedia Internet Governance, emphasised the broader implications of the partnership, describing it as “an innovative model for governance in a disrupted digital era.”
He further stated, “This initiative goes beyond Nigeria. It is about demonstrating how democracies can harness technology ethically, ensuring greater citizen participation without compromising democratic principles.”
The partnership, currently in its early stages, will prioritise “digital literacy initiatives designed to equip citizens with tools to identify and counter disinformation proactively.”
Plans include the development of “interactive mobile applications and gamified educational experiences to help citizens recognise manipulated content, fake news, and deepfake technology.”
This initiative arrives at a crucial juncture as democracies worldwide grapple with the spread of misinformation amplified by emerging technologies.
Nigeria, with its “vibrant digital landscape and one of the continent’s youngest populations,” is poised to “pioneer scalable solutions and set new standards for digital engagement and public trust globally.”
Further details of the partnership’s initiatives will be unveiled in the coming months.
Sowemimo will formally introduce the initiative at CloudFest in Frankfurt, Germany, highlighting “Nigeria’s commitment to innovation-driven civic engagement on the global stage.”