The Sokoto State Government has called for religious clerics across Nigeria to be trained in artificial intelligence and digital literacy, warning that the misuse of AI-generated content and social media misinformation is threatening national unity.
The state’s Commissioner for Innovation and Digital Economy, Bashar Umar Kwabo, said the rise of deepfakes, manipulated audio and AI-generated images has made false narratives more convincing and harder to detect, even for respected community leaders.
He was speaking at a two-day workshop on Combatting False Narratives and Promoting Media Literacy, organised by the non-profit organisation Alkalanci in partnership with the Sokoto State Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“In a society like Nigeria, where social media conversations can easily escalate into conflict, this type of training is no longer optional,” Mr Kwabo said.
“What this programme seeks to achieve is to unite Nigerians rather than divide them.”
Nigeria’s online space has become increasingly polarised, with false or misleading content often spreading rapidly along ethnic, religious and political lines. Officials say this has, in some cases, fuelled tension and insecurity.
Mr Kwabo explained that the training was designed to help clerics recognise how artificial intelligence tools are being used to create deceptive content capable of misleading large audiences.
“Today, false content can be produced in ways that appear very real and convincing,” he said, warning that untrained clerics risk being misled and unintentionally sharing misinformation with their followers.
The involvement of Islamic clerics, he said, was deliberate because of their strong influence within northern communities.
“Our clerics often have audiences larger than those of journalists. What they say is trusted and acted upon,” he said.
“By training them, we are effectively training the trainers and reaching the grassroots.”
The Commissioner also highlighted broader efforts by his ministry to reduce online tensions in Sokoto State, including public sensitisation campaigns and regulatory measures targeting cyberbullying, cyberstalking and other forms of digital abuse.
He said the state had already recorded a decline in digital-related crimes since the introduction of these measures.
“Peace is not built by roads and buildings alone,” Mr Kwabo added.
“It is built by minds that are informed, enlightened and resilient to manipulation.”
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Associate Professor Jabir Mai Hula, said the initiative aimed to counter false narratives, improve media literacy and reduce radical interpretations through education.
“When clerics are properly enlightened, they are better able to relate religious teachings to contemporary realities,” he said.
“This supports de-radicalisation and promotes peaceful coexistence.”
The workshop brought together Islamic scholars from Sokoto State and neighbouring Niger Republic and focused on identifying misinformation, understanding AI-driven deception and encouraging responsible communication.
