FactCheckAfrica, a leading fact-checking initiative under the umbrella of Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, has recently forged a strategic partnership with Stanford University, a prestigious academic institution based in the United States.
This collaboration aims to introduce a comprehensive digital media literacy curriculum to Senior Secondary Schools throughout Nigeria(With 50 schools to serve as Pilot in Kwara State).
This significant milestone follows FactCheckAfrica’s collaboration with the Deliberative Democracy Lab, Stanford University, to develop a curriculum tailored to combat disinformation and misinformation effectively. Alice Siu, a distinguished senior researcher and Associate Director of the Deliberative Democracy Lab, highlighted the importance of this partnership, emphasizing its role in equipping students with critical evaluation skills and nurturing responsible digital citizenship.
The curriculum encompasses a wide range of essential topics, including techniques for discerning various types of biases and utilizing fact-checking tools effectively. Furthermore, teachers will complement the curriculum with supplementary materials such as educational videos, interactive games, worksheets, and group discussions to reinforce key concepts covered in each lesson plan.
Habeeb Adisa, the Head of programs at FactCheckAfrica, expressed his enthusiasm for the project and outlined its initial implementation phase. The program will be piloted in 50 schools across Kwara State, aiming to mitigate the proliferation of misinformation and enhance information literacy among students.
Founded in 1885 by Leland Stanford, a prominent railroad magnate, and his wife, Jane Stanford University has maintained a legacy of delivering exceptional education and fostering academic excellence. This collaboration underscores Stanford University’s commitment to global outreach and knowledge dissemination.