By Angela Atabo
Amnesty International has trained micro-influencers from three states drawn across three geopolitical zones to promote human rights, fact-check information, counter misinformation and responsible digital engagement.
The benefiting states are Lagos, Enugu and the Federal Capital territory (FCT).
The Programmes Manager, Amnesty International, Barbara Magaji, said during the training on Tuesday in Abuja that the programme was to equip influencers especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Magaji said the initiative was funded by the German Embassy and implemented by Amnesty International to equip content creators with knowledge and skills to promote human rights and demand accountability for rights violations.
She said the project was being piloted across six states, with three states selected for volunteers and another three for micro-influencers.
According to her, the micro-influencer component is being implemented in the FCT, Lagos and Enugu.
“Participants were selected through a public application process based on predetermined criteria. We are expected to have 20 micro-influencers in each state, making 60 for the three states.
“For us, it is about engaging diverse people to promote human rights because human rights are everyone’s concern.
“Sometimes, when we only engage with a group of people and exclude others, it becomes a problem.
“We thought it wise that apart from our volunteers at the grassroots level, we need to engage those who are online and can spread information faster using platforms that already exist,” she said.
Magaji said the programme was not necessarily targeted at people who were already human rights advocates, but people who understood that human rights affected individuals and communities.
She urged the participants to continue using their platforms to promote human rights beyond the duration of the programme.
“Amnesty alone cannot promote human rights. We call on every other person to do that, and we hope they continue to engage on those issues in the course of their work,” she said.
Also speaking, Dooshima Tsee, Media and Communications Manager, Amnesty International, said the increasing use of digital platforms made it important to equip content creators with the skills to communicate responsibly.
“The reason why this is really important is because we are going more and more into the digital space.
“For every area of life, you open social media or digital platforms and you find people talking about it,” she said.
Tsee said the training was particularly important ahead of the forthcoming elections, given the prevalence of misinformation, disinformation and inciting speech online.
She said influencers needed to understand how to discuss political and civic issues without inciting violence or inflaming emotions.
“Elections in Nigeria can tend to be a bit volatile.
“So, making sure that we are equipping people who are already online and already having been following with the skills they need to talk about human rights issues, politics and the civic space in a way that does not incite violence is very important,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Tolulope Gbenro, a social impact consultant, described the training as timely and impactful.
Gbenro said the training would help participants advocate more effectively on human rights, climate action, youth development and governance.
“With the governorship and presidential elections approaching, it is important for young people and Nigerians generally to have their voices heard, make the right decisions and hold leaders accountable,” she said.
Another participant, Great Ibigwe, a law student at the University of Abuja, said the training would enable him to improve the way he communicated information to young people across different digital platforms.
“I have a large audience of young people and they trust me. I will use this opportunity to learn as much as I can and make sure the right information is passed on to them,” he said.
He added that he would use the knowledge gained to expand his reach and improve his storytelling and information-sharing on issues affecting young Nigerians.(NAN)(NAN)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu