Alkalanci Trains Kaduna Female Islamic Scholars on Media Literacy, Misinformation Fight
Kaduna State has joined a growing national effort to combat misinformation, as Alkalanci, a Hausa-language fact-checking and media literacy organisation, launched a two-day training workshop for female Islamic scholars and teachers across the state.
The Kaduna programme marks the organisation’s first women-focused edition, following similar engagements in Kano, Sokoto, Gombe, and Maradi in the Niger Republic. Organisers say the initiative is designed to empower women as key drivers of accurate information within their communities.
Speaking at the opening, Alkalanci’s Managing Editor and Programme Manager, Victoria Bamas, highlighted the central role women play in shaping society through education. She urged participants to embrace their responsibility as trusted voices, especially in an era marked by widespread misinformation and emerging threats such as deepfake technology.
Bamas warned that false information poses increasing risks, particularly as Nigeria approaches another election cycle. She encouraged participants to adopt a culture of verification, urging them to “pause, question, verify, and ultimately reject falsehood.”
The training features an all-female team of facilitators from academia, media, and religious institutions, equipping participants with practical skills to verify text, images, and video content. Attendees are expected to replicate the knowledge gained within their communities.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Rabi Ibrahim, commended the initiative, noting that women and girls are often the primary victims of harmful online content, including manipulated media. She described media literacy as essential for safeguarding both individuals and communities.
Also speaking, the Deputy Amira of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hauwa Idris, pledged the organisation’s support, describing the fight against misinformation as a humanitarian responsibility. She added that FOMWAN would help expand the reach of the training across its nationwide network.
Similarly, representatives of Jami’iyyar Matan Arewa, led by Hajiya Ladi Garba, stressed that the consequences of disinformation, thus ranging from health risks to loss of lives, and which disproportionately affect women. The group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote critical thinking and information verification.
Alkalanci noted that the Kaduna training builds on the successes recorded in previous states, where participants have demonstrated improved ability to identify and counter false narratives.
The organisation expressed optimism that the women-focused approach in Kaduna will further strengthen grassroots resistance to misinformation and promote a culture of responsible information sharing across communities.
