Presidency, Cyberpedia partner to tackle misinformation with AI
The partnership between the Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy (PODES) and Cyberpedia Internet Governance aims to address misinformation using AI technology. This collaboration is a significant step towards improving civic communication in Nigeria. The involvement of Cyberpedia, an African corporation specializing in AI, data, and cybersecurity, highlights the importance of leveraging technology for societal benefits. By joining forces, both entities can work towards combating misinformation and promoting accurate information dissemination. This initiative demonstrates the commitment of Nigerian authorities to harnessing innovative solutions for the betterment of society.
Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy Partnership
The Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy (PODES), under the leadership of Senior Special Assistant to the President, Otega Ogra, has entered into a partnership with Cyberpedia Internet Governance—an African Artificial Intelligence, Data & Cybersecurity corporation—to reimagine civic communication in Nigeria.
This groundbreaking collaboration, announced ahead of Cyberpedia President Abiodun Sowemimo’s keynote at the global Cloudfest conference in Frankfurt, Germany, aims to strengthen the government’s digital resilience by equipping citizens with innovative tools to identify and counter misinformation in real-time.
Core Pillars of the Partnership
Addressing the challenges posed by disinformation, misinformation, and fractured digital attention, the partnership is built upon two core pillars:
- Mapping Public Sentiment: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to capture real-time insights across Nigeria’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape.
- Grassroots Empowerment: 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’s about equipping Nigerians with the tools to lead their own informed conversations,” noted 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.”
Cyberpedia Internet Governance’s President, Abiodun Sowemimo, described the collaboration as an innovative model for governance in a disrupted digital era. “This initiative goes beyond Nigeria,” Sowemimo emphasized. “It is about demonstrating how democracies can harness technology ethically, ensuring greater citizen participation without compromising democratic principles.”
Future Initiatives
Still in its early stages, the partnership will prioritize digital literacy initiatives designed to equip citizens with tools to identify and counter disinformation proactively. Planned initiatives include interactive mobile applications and gamified educational experiences to help citizens recognize manipulated content, fake news, and deepfake technology.
This groundbreaking initiative comes at a critical time as democracies worldwide grapple with misinformation amplified by emerging technologies. Nigeria, home to a vibrant digital landscape and one of the continent’s youngest populations, is uniquely positioned to pioneer scalable solutions and set new standards for digital engagement and public trust globally.
PODES and Cyberpedia will unveil additional details of the partnership’s initiatives in the coming months. Sowemimo will formally introduce the initiative later this week at Cloudfest in Frankfurt, Germany, home to the largest gathering of internet infrastructure industry with over 9,000 leaders in the tech ecosystem globally, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to innovation-driven civic engagement on the global stage.