Oak Centre has hosted the first community session of its grassroots fact-checking initiative, AbegNaLie, with women in Bama, Borno State. The session marked a significant step in equipping women with the tools to counter disinformation and misinformation that affect their daily lives.
Borno State, which has experienced years of conflict and instability, is particularly vulnerable to false narratives that spread fear and undermine trust in institutions. Women, who often serve as the custodians of information within households and communities, are seen as crucial allies in building resilience against these threats.
During the session, participants learned how to identify false claims, verify information before sharing, and use everyday language to challenge misinformation within their families and neighbourhoods. The training also introduced them to Mu San Gaskiya, Oak Centre’s radio programme on Freedom Radio, which amplifies community voices and corrects widespread falsehoods.
“Women are at the heart of our communities,” said Rahila Abubakar, Borno State Training Coordinator for Oak Centre. “They are the first to hear stories in the market, at the well, or in their homes. If they are empowered to question and verify, they can stop misinformation from spreading at the root. What we began here in Bama is more than training; it is about restoring confidence and protecting our people from the harm of lies.”
The women’s session in Bama is part of a broader rollout of AbegNaLie across six states, including Kano, Kaduna, Benue, Lagos and Nasarawa. Each session aims to build a network of trusted influencers who can link with civil society organisations and journalists in the Oak Centre network, ensuring that truth is both local and collective.
