As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, growing concerns over artificial intelligence (AI)-driven misinformation have highlighted the increasing digital risks faced by women in public-facing roles. Female journalists, in particular, are becoming prime targets of deepfakes, coordinated disinformation campaigns, online harassment, and other forms of technology-enabled abuse designed to undermine their credibility.
These concerns formed the focus of a two-day digital security training held in Lagos, where the non-governmental organisation TechSocietal trained 30 female journalists from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to strengthen their resilience against emerging cyber threats.
A major component of the programme focused on equipping participants with the skills to distinguish authentic content from AI-generated fabrications. Jessica Ikemdilim, Legal and Policy Programmes Officer at TechSocietal, guided participants through practical techniques for detecting synthetic media and AI-enabled manipulation that could compromise the integrity of information in the public domain.
The training introduced journalists to digital forensic methods, including metadata analysis and other verification techniques, to help determine whether images, videos, or audio had been altered using artificial intelligence. Ikemdilim expressed confidence that participants would apply these skills in their newsrooms, helping to promote a safer and more credible digital information ecosystem.
Beyond content verification, the programme also addressed personal digital security. Emmanuella Aston, Cyber Security and Digital Protection Officer at TechSocietal, explained that women in public-facing professions are disproportionately exposed to cyberattacks, AI-generated deepfakes, doxxing, trolling, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images intended to damage reputations.
She noted that journalists, politicians, and civil society actors cannot simply withdraw from digital platforms because maintaining an online presence is essential to their work.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Aston said, “The specialized training focuses on practical digital protection measures tailored to women in public life rather than generic online safety guidance.”
She attributed the urgency of the programme to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, stating, “Advances in artificial intelligence have made creating convincing fake images, videos, and voices much easier, increasing the risks of coordinated smear campaigns.”
Linking the training to the country’s electoral timeline, she added, “Evolving digital threats require stronger security skills, especially as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
The sessions extended beyond theory, allowing participants to strengthen the security of their own devices and online accounts through practical exercises. Aston encouraged the journalists to cascade the knowledge by training other women in newsrooms, civil society organisations, and public institutions.
Participants and NAN editorial staff described the training as both timely and impactful.
Aisha Martins, a journalism intern with NAN, said the programme enhanced her ability to identify deepfakes, verify digital content, and counter AI-generated misinformation in her reporting.
Assistant Editor-in-Chief at NAN, Ms Folasade Adeniran, said the training gave her a deeper understanding of online safety and improved her ability to recognise deepfakes and other forms of synthetic media.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Mrs Ijeoma Popoola, described the programme as timely and essential for women with a strong digital presence. She commended the facilitators for simplifying complex cybersecurity concepts into practical knowledge that participants could immediately apply to safeguard their devices, personal information, and digital identities.
Another participant, Mrs Florence Onuegbu, recommended that similar digital security training be extended to male journalists, noting that cyber threats, AI-enabled misinformation, and reputational attacks increasingly affect media professionals regardless of gender.
By Umm e Habiba, Pakistan.
