How I led first ‘live fact check’ of presidential debate in Nigeria ― Mayowa Tijani

We did the first ‘live fact check’ of a flagship ‘presidential debate’ in Nigeria’s 58-year history at the British Council, Ikoyi during the pre-screening of Up North, the movie. The challenges, the adrenaline & the lessons. #ShowYourWorkings #Factchecking #FactCheck.

While studying for my masters at @SussexUni, I had a Google doc for my plans with @thecableng upon return to Nigeria. Whenever I had a new idea or anything close, I’d write it there & devise a plan to get it done, including things I needed to learn to get it done #FactChecking.

One of the ideas I had written was to have a live fact check of all the flagship presidential and guber debates in the country in 2018. This was why I returned to Nigeria in September as opposed to January 2019 (when my graduation was slated for).

I resumed October 1, 2018 and discussed some of the ideas with the team. They loved them, and we decided to run with it. It was hot in my heart, but it seemed like we had moved on from it. Fast Forward, I got an invite from @ngBritishArts to see #UpNorth, I accepted.

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December 14, 2018, baba baff up go office [I dressed up for the office (to fit the screening dress code)]. From office to the premiere. I had totally forgotten that was the day for the vice-presidential arm of the NEDG/BON Presidential debate series. In hours, I was at the British Council with @MansurIB007.

 

December 14, 2018, baba baff up go office [I dressed up for the office (to fit the screening dress code)]. From office to the premiere. I had totally forgotten that was the day for the vice-presidential arm of the NEDG/BON Presidential debate series. In hours, I was at the British Council with @MansurIB007.

Na we first come sef… lol (we were early birds). As we settled in @EditiEffiong and team were setting up for what was the beginning of the screening of a great movie. Then Oga Patapata (my editor) who never forgets the great things, @simonkolawole, sent a message “Mayowa, are we set for live fact check?”

Set ke? When film don dey enter body (apologies to Burnaboy). I wasn’t even with my laptop. Thank God for small mercies. I borrowed @MansurIB007‘s laptop, got an earphone, rallied the team, and said yes to the boss. I couldn’t say no to my dreams. #FactChecking #FactCheck.

As everyone watched #UpNorth, @MansurIB007 & I watched

@ProfOsinbajo vs @PeterObi vs the rest. At this point, I recalled what I always say: “In life, it is too late to prepare, Mayowa, you have to live prepared” (Quote Inspired by Boys Scout & David Oyedepo). Agbada had to go

And so we went live & it was arguably the most-read and most-discussed piece of fact-checking in Nigeria for that debate. We got jeers and cheers from Nigerians & politicians (PDPAPC). It was shared over 4,000 times on Facebook alone that night. Read here.

Lesson: When #factchecking, check your bias and have a clear conscience. After this tweet by @fkeyamo, journalists and politicians started saying I had been paid to do the fact check, but you see the process above. My only influence were my Sussex Ideas.

A journalist sent me a message asking how much I was paid, he said I must now buy an SUV. I laughed so hard that night. He was being serious. But because I had a clear mind, I thought he was joking. I got a lot of feedback that night and the days after. We had made history.

 

A journalist sent me a message asking how much I was paid, he said I must now buy an SUV. I laughed so hard that night. He was being serious. But because I had a clear mind, I thought he was joking. I got a lot of feedback that night and the days after. We had made history.

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A journalist sent me a message asking how much I was paid, he said I must now buy an SUV. I laughed so hard that night. He was being serious. But because I had a clear mind, I thought he was joking. I got a lot of feedback that night and the days after. We had made history.

 

A great thing had happened at that night @ngBritish, but the organisers were not aware of it. Lesson: Never wait for the situation to be perfect — it may take you four years to have another opportunity at it again. I’m certain that by 2023, more live fact checks will come up.

This was a major piece of fact-checking that helped open me a door at AFP Fact Check. And we have since won a fact-checking award. Lesson: Trust your ideas, have a believer like @simonkolawole in your life and do it afraid — literally.

DO YOU HAVE REGRETS? Yes, I do. This doc was last edited on September 8, 2018 — I was still in the UK. Ideas are powerful. I listed @BudgITng and @CovenantCCentre as partners for the live fact-checking in this doc back in 2018. But we couldn’t pursue that Partnership.

@LekeAlder is right: When an idea comes on the earth, it comes to many people, but its birth by those who take actions. @CovenantCCentre organised Lagos guber debate. I didn’t know they had the plans for it, but months before they announced it, I ALREADY listed them for it.

I never mentioned this partnership to anyone at @BudgITng or @CovenantCCentre, yet they came together and did it👇.

• Oluwamayowa Tijani is a Fact checker at AFP and Business and Development Editor at The Cable.