A lecturer at the department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr. Jamiu Folarin has been selected as Dubawa’s Fact-checking Fellow by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).
The Dubawa Fellowship is supported by Heinrich Boll Stiftung Foundation Abuja office.
According to the Programme Assistant Dubawa, PTCIJ, Temilade Onilede, Folarin who is also a Ph.D candidate at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, emerged from 104 applicants.
Folarin who is also the promoter of Nigeria Meter, an online media platform dedicated to documenting promises of public officials and monitoring their fulfilments, was selected after going through two stages of selection. This include filling an application form and attending a virtual interview.
Onilede in an e-mail explained that Folarin was selected “as one of Dubawa’s fact-checking fellows 2020 who will tackle misinformation and hold political elites accountable for their words, action.”
She added that the programme is expected to “expand the reach of verified information to grassroots communities that are targeted constituencies for political, social and cultural disinformation so they are adequately equipped to hold political elites accountable.”
“Out of 104 applicants, You have been selected. So congratulations once again!”
In cooperation with the Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung-Abuja office, Folarin and other Fellows will today, Wednesday 8th July, 2020, commence a 4-day virtual training as part of the Fact-checking Fellowship programme which will last for six months, July to December 2020.
Folarin according to the call-for-application is expected to conduct empirical analyses of the patterns of information consumption in Nigeria and Ghana and its impact on democratic governance in selected society.
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Selected Fellows who are journalists are also expected to deliver an average of at least four fact-check stories and two media literacy articles per month.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Crescent University, Professor Ibrahim Gbajabiamila has congratulated Mr Folarin on his emergence as a Fellow of Dubawa’s Fact-checking project by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).
Gbajabiamila said the selection of Mr Folarin out of numerous applicants, speaks volumes of the quality of manpower tasked with promoting the academic and moral excellence at Crescent University, Abeokuta.
He commended PTCIJ and Heinrich Boll Stiftung Foundation Abuja office for coming up with the project that is expected to address challenges associated with fake news in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the project is promoting one of the cardinal principles of the University as it is a form of hand shake between the gown and town.
“Crescent University as an academic community will continue to collaborate with professionals from different fields to churn out quality graduates for the manpower needs of the country.”
“We will continue to support our staff in area of relevant training that will enable Crescent University deliver its mandate as a citadel of academic and moral excellence”, Gbajabiamila stressed.
In his congratulatory message, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Dr Kola Adesina commended Mr Folarin for his tenacity and dedication to research on theory and practice of journalism.
Dr Adesina added that the feat is the result of one of the many ways the University is ensuring that it gives the best in terms of training to staff and students.
