DNN FactCheck Secures EU-ECOWAS Backing to Strengthen Fight Against Election Disinformation
By: Oluwaseun M. Lawal
LAGOS, Nigeria — In the months leading to Nigeria’s next electoral cycle, the battle against misinformation is becoming just as important as the elections themselves.
That battle received a boost on Monday.
DNN FactCheck, the verification and fact-checking arm of Development News Network (DNN) Media Foundation, has been selected to receive specialized technical and technological support under the European Union-funded Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project.
Only two Nigerian fact-checking organizations were chosen for the initiative—DNN FactCheck and BONews. The selection followed a competitive assessment involving several organizations working in the verification and fact-checking space across the country.
The project is being implemented by the Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP) in partnership with FactCheckAfrica. Its goal is straightforward: strengthen fact-checking platforms so they can better respond to hate speech, election-related disinformation, fraud, and narratives capable of fueling violence.
For DNN FactCheck, the support means more than new technology.
It opens the door to stronger digital systems, improved cybersecurity, better website performance, and more advanced verification tools. The programme also includes specialized training in artificial intelligence, open-source intelligence (OSINT), digital investigations, deepfake detection, and other emerging verification techniques. These are skills increasingly needed as misinformation continues to evolve.
The organization will also join a regional verification network that connects fact-checkers across West Africa, making it easier to share information, coordinate investigations, and respond quickly to false narratives that cross national borders.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of DNN’s Editorial Board, Lakan Otufodunrin, described the selection as an important milestone for the organization.
“We appreciate being selected for this support, which will enable us to effectively counter worrisome cases of disinformation, election violence, and other related issues,” he said.
Otufodunrin noted that elections are becoming increasingly shaped by digital platforms, making investment in both editorial capacity and technology necessary if citizens are to receive verified and trustworthy information.
Editorial Director of DNN Media, Mayowa Adeniran, said the support comes at a time when misinformation has become more sophisticated and capable of weakening public confidence in democratic institutions.
According to him, the new partnership will strengthen DNN FactCheck’s investigative capacity while improving the speed and quality of evidence-based fact-checks produced in the public interest.
“We are glad to join BONews to promote factual reporting, counter harmful narratives and strengthen democratic resilience,” Adeniran said.
Also speaking, Wemimo Adewuni-Obiwale, a member of the Board of Directors of DNN Media Foundation Ltd/GTE, described the selection as recognition of the organization’s growing contribution to credible journalism in Nigeria.
She said the partnership reflects confidence in DNN’s commitment to accountability journalism and accurate reporting at a time when misinformation, hate speech, and manipulated digital content continue to threaten democratic processes.
For the organization, she added, the opportunity also comes with responsibility.
“We remain committed to using this opportunity to serve the public interest with integrity and excellence,” she said.
The support arrives as concerns continue to grow over coordinated online disinformation campaigns, synthetic media, and AI-generated deepfakes capable of influencing political conversations.
With improved technology, stronger verification systems, and access to advanced investigative tools, DNN FactCheck says it hopes to respond faster to false claims, expand public access to verified information, and contribute to more transparent and peaceful elections across Nigeria and the wider West African region.
DNN FactCheck operates as the dedicated verification unit of Development News Network Media Foundation, focusing on evidence-based journalism, accountability reporting, and public-interest investigations. Through structured verification workflows and open-source research, the platform works to identify, verify, and debunk misinformation while strengthening public trust in credible journalism.
The EU Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project is funded by the European Union and implemented by FIAP alongside regional partners, including FactCheckAfrica. The initiative seeks to strengthen democratic governance, electoral integrity, peace, and security across West Africa by supporting media organizations, civil society groups, and electoral stakeholders in responding to misinformation and emerging digital threats.
Oluwaseun Musa Lawal is an Editor at REPORTERS ROOM with over eight years of professional journalism experience. He specializes in reporting on politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial affairs. His work is driven by a commitment to accuracy, balanced reporting, and public-interest journalism.
