Fake News: WABMA Celebrates 100th Debunker Series, Graduates 50

As part of its efforts to deepen commitment to accurate news, the culture of verification and the promotion of media literacy, the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) will on Thursday, June 5, 2025, mark the hundredth edition of its fake news debunker series, WABMA Fake News Debunker.

Registrar of WABMA, Joseph Obari, announced this in a statement on Tuesday.

The development is coming as the academy graduates 50 successful participants in its 2025 second quarter media and communication certification courses

Rector of the Academy, Dr Ken Ike Okere, was quoted to have said, in an era of worrying proliferation of fake news and a culture of poor verification, the fake news debunker series has come to be a reference point for news consumers in Nigeria and beyond.

“To deepen commitment to accurate news, the culture of verification and the promotion of media literacy, we have launched the WABMA DebunkIt Challenge for students, young journalists, and media enthusiasts in commemoration of the 100th edition of the WABMA Fake News Debunker, which started running since April 2022,” Dr Okere said.

Competitors in the online competition are being assessed on a one-minute fact-checking video production debunking any widespread health, political, religious, gender myth or misinformation in West Africa.

Okere said that the competition aims to Inspire a new generation of fact-checkers and ethical communicators, reward creativity and truth-telling through public participation in digital media.

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He said that entries have been received and will be evaluated by a panel of seasoned veteran professionals to select the best three competitors who will be rewarded during the graduation ceremony for participants of the academy’s 2025 second quarter media and communication certification courses.

Renowned Radio Nigeria broadcaster, media entrepreneur, and academic, Dr. Tope Ojeme will deliver the keynote address, followed by a panel session of industry professionals, academics, and policy influencers on the theme, “The Future of Fact-Checking in African Media”