By Rose Okudaye and Stellamaris Ashinze
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says threats to the 2027 Elections by emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and coordinated disinformation campaigns are no longer peripheral digital concerns.
Mr Michel Kenmoe, UNESCO’s West Africa Advisor for Communication and Information, made this known at the opening session of a two-day meeting, organised by GIZ, Nigeria Democratic Institute (NDI) with support from UNESCO.
The meeting which brought regulators, development partners and civil society organisations together was to deliberate on strategies to safeguard information integrity and avoid deepfakes, ahead of the country’s upcoming elections.
Kenmoe said that election periods were becoming increasingly vulnerable to manipulation through fake news, hate speech, coordinated disinformation campaigns and emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
“These threats are no longer peripheral digital concerns; they have become systemic risks affecting democratic participation, electoral integrity, social cohesion, peace and security, and public trust,” he said.
He warned that misinformation and disinformation had become major threats to democratic participation, electoral integrity and public trust.
The UNESCO official noted further that deepfakes, synthetic audio, AI-generated images and personalised influence campaigns were becoming cheaper and easier to deploy.
He also raised concerns over the growing influence of major digital platforms in controlling the visibility, circulation and moderation of information globally.
He said the Praia Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, held in Cabo Verde in 2025, had produced a regional policy framework and action plan to address the challenge.
According to him, a Practical Guide for Regulatory Bodies implementing the Praia Policy Framework has also been developed by UNESCO,African Communication Regulation Authorities Network and REFRAM, with support from Global Affairs Canada through the NDI.
The Praia Policy Framework is an offshoot of the Praia Regional Conference and aims to promote a coherent and integrated approach to information integrity policies; improve the governance of digital platforms while protecting human rights.
It also seeks to strengthen the resilience of populations to disinformation and hate speech; promote inclusive access to information and data of public interest; and strengthen multi-stakeholder engagement in support of information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.
In his remarks, the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Charles Ebuebu, described Nigeria as Africa’s most significant digital arena with over 150 million internet users.
Ebuebu said developments within Nigeria’s information ecosystem had implications beyond its borders.
“What happens in our information ecosystem does not stay within our borders.
“It shapes the integrity of our elections, the safety of vulnerable populations and the trust citizens place in public institutions,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria was the first country in West Africa to begin applying the Guide for Regulators to Implement the Information Integrity Model Policy Framework in a dedicated national setting.
According to him, the country’s legal and regulatory framework already provides a strong foundation for digital governance, but coordination among institutions remains critical.
He listed the institutions involved as including media regulators, data protection authorities, cybersecurity agencies, telecommunications regulators and electoral bodies.
“Coordination is no longer a virtue; it is a necessity,” Ebuebu said.
He said participants at the meeting would review the Praia Policy Framework and identify practical steps for implementation in Nigeria.
The NBC boss said discussions would focus on electoral periods, vulnerable groups, crisis situations and inter-agency collaboration.
Also speaking, Mr Edetaen Ojo, Media Rights Advocate and Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, said the Praia Policy Framework was designed to provide a rights-based and multi-stakeholder response to disinformation.
Ojo said the framework emphasised freedom of expression, access to information, privacy and media freedom.
He added that the framework called for transparency in digital platform governance, algorithmic accountability, media literacy and stronger protection for vulnerable groups.
According to him, measures against disinformation must not be used to suppress free speech or justify arbitrary content takedowns and internet shutdowns.
He said the framework also encouraged member states to strengthen early warning systems, rapid response mechanisms and public awareness campaigns.
Participants were expected to develop a short-term implementation roadmap to strengthen information integrity ahead of future elections.
NAN reports that the event brought together representatives of the NBC, ECOWAS, ACRAN), GIZ, the National Democratic media groups and digital governance stakeholders. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Christiana Fadare
