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Meta introduces new AI-powered tool to combat misinformation on Wikipedia

Raji Olatunji
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Meta introduces new AI-powered tool to combat misinformation on Wikipedia

Meta has announced a new AI-powered tool to combat the spread of online misinformation globally.

The Facebook parent company unveiled the new tool called Sphere after years of criticisms over alleged role of its social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – in the spread of misinformation online.

Meta said the Sphere is “the first [AI] model capable of automatically scanning hundreds of thousands of citations at once to check whether they truly support the corresponding claims.”

READ: Meta oversight board member urges actions against fake news on WhatsApp

The AI tool designed to help make Wikipedia entries more accurate, would detect and address misinformation or “fake news” on the internet.

According to Meta’s research team, Sphere’s dataset includes 134 million public webpages, relying on the collective knowledge of the internet to rapidly scan hundreds of thousands of web citations to search for factual errors.

Wikipedia – the crowd-sourced internet encyclopedia – is already using Sphere to scan its pages and flag sources that don’t support the claims in the entry.

“Wikipedia is the default first stop in the hunt for research information, background material, or an answer to that nagging question about pop culture,” Meta said in the statement.

It noted that Wikipedia hosts more than 6.5 million entries in the English language alone and adds about 17,000 new entries to its pages each month.

While Meta also released a video showing how Sphere works, the company said the arrangement with Wikipedia does not involve financial compensation.

According to Meta’s researchers, the complexity of singling out individual claims with questionable sources and determining if they support the claims in question “requires an AI system’s depth of understanding and analysis.”

Shani Evenstein Sigalov, a Tel Aviv University researcher and Vice Chair of the Wikimedia Foundation’s Board of Trustees, was quoted in the statement as saying that Sphere’s work with Wikipedia is “a powerful example of machine learning tools that can help scale the work of volunteers by efficiently recommending citations and accurate sources.”

Meta vows to remove Hamas-related disinformation from its platforms

“Improving these processes will allow us to attract new editors to Wikipedia and provide better, more reliable information to billions of people around the world.

“I look forward to continued improvements in this area, especially as machine learning tools are able to provide more customized citations and multilingual options to serve our Wikimedia communities across more than 300 languages,” Sigalov said.

But the tech company has in the past come under public criticism.

Former employees and leaked internal documents have also claimed that the company has valued profits over combating misinformation, which has led to Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg appearing before the US Congress to discuss the issue.

US President Joe Biden had also accused Meta of “killing people” by allowing Covid-19 vaccine misinformation to spread on its platforms.

But Meta, however, denied the accusation saying that Facebook and Instagram were providing “authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines” to billions of users.

How accurate are Omigbodun’s claims on poverty rate in Osun, Nigeria?

Nurudeen Akewushola
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How accurate are Omigbodun’s claims on poverty rate in Osun, Nigeria?

OYEGOKE Omigbodun, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the 2022 Osun state gubernatorial election, has claimed that Osun is one of the worst-hit states by poverty in Nigeria with 47% of people in the state living below the poverty line.

He made this claim during the televised debate held on Wednesday, 6th of July, 2022 ahead of the July 16 governorship election in Osun state.

Speaking at the debate hosted by Arise TV and which featured three other governorship candidates, Omigbodun added that the national poverty average is 42.6%.

Did Anambra record 53.7% poverty rate under Peter Obi?

Others who participated in the debate include the current Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akin Ogunbiyi (Accord); and Yusuf Lasun (Labour Party) who spoke about their plans for the Osun electorate if elected.

“If you check your statistics very well. Right now in Osun State, about 47% of the people live below the poverty line which is one of the worst in the federation. The average is 42.6% in the federation,” Omigbodun said.

In this report, The FactCheckHub examines the veracity of the two claims highlighted below based on the latest data available.

CLAIMS

  1. That 47% of people in Osun state live below the poverty line – one of the worst in the federation.
  2. That Nigeria’s average poverty rate is 42.6%.

CLAIM 1: 47% of people in Osun state live below the poverty line- one of the worst in the federation.

The latest data on the state-by-state poverty rate in Nigeria was last released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2020.

The report, which was titled the “2019 Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria” is based on data from the round of the Nigerian Living Standards Survey, conducted in 2018-2019 with support from the World Bank’s Poverty Global Practice and technical assistance from the LSMS programme.

The report simply puts the poverty line at 137,430 Naira per person per year. In other words, the individuals living in households whose per capita annual is below 137,430 Naira are considered poor by national standards.

According to the report, Osun state has a poverty rate of 8.52% which is the state’s lowest index since the return to democracy. The state was ranked third among states with the lowest poverty rate in Nigeria behind Lagos state which has a 4.50 percent poverty rate and Delta State which has 6.02 percent.

The report puts Osun State below the urban poverty line average (18.0 percent) and the national poverty line average (40.1 percent).

The data still remains the statistics relied upon by many data hubs in Nigeria such as Statista and Dataphyte in appraising the state’s poverty index.

Therefore, Omigbodun’s claim that Osun state has the worst poverty rate in the federation with 47% is FALSE; as findings by The FactCheckHub show that the state has an 8.52% poverty rate and is ranked the third state with the lowest poverty headcount based on the most recent data.

CLAIM 2: Nigeria’s average poverty rate is 42.6%.

The United Nations defines extreme poverty, also known as Absolute or Abject poverty as, “a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education, and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to services.” This description is contained in chapter two, item 19, page 38 of the World Summit for Social Development WSSD 1995 agreement, held in Copenhagen.

The World Bank Commission on Global Poverty also defined extreme poverty as those living below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day.

In its poverty assessment report titled ‘A Better Future for All Nigerians: 2022 Nigeria Poverty Assessment’ which was released in March 2022, the World Bank recognised the 2019 poverty assessment report by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as the “most recent estimates of poverty and welfare in Nigeria.”

According to the NBS report which was released in 2020 prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, 40.1 percent of Nigerians lived on less than the national poverty line. In other words, around 4 in 10 Nigerians were living in poverty. This is lower than the 42.6% quoted by Omigbodun.

However, the World Bank projected that the number of poor Nigerians would hit 95.1 million representing 42.6% of the national population in 2022 from the 90 million it initially forecast due to population growth. The projection later influenced the forecast that an additional five million people would have been pulled below the poverty line due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Projected Poverty Head Count Rate and Absolute Number of People, throughout the COVID-19 Crisis. Credit: World Bank Document.

“Were the crisis not to have hit (the counterfactual scenario), the poverty headcount rate would be forecast to remain virtually unchanged, with the number of poor people set to rise from 82.9 million in 2018/19 to 85.2 million in 2020 and 90.0 million in 2022, due largely to natural population growth,” the bank said.

ALSO READ: How true are viral claims on Nigeria’s unemployment rate, extreme poverty and debt profile?

It added: “Given the effects of the crisis, however, the poverty headcount rate is instead projected to jump from 40.1 percent in 2018/19 to 42.0 percent in 2020 and 42.6 percent in 2022, implying that the number of poor people was 89.0 million in 2020 and would be 95.1 million in 2022. Taking the difference between these two scenarios, the crisis alone is projected to have driven an additional 3.8 million Nigerians into poverty in 2020, with an additional 5.1 million living in poverty by 2022.”

Therefore, using the forecast by the World Bank as the metric, Omigbodun’s claim that Nigeria’s national poverty rate is 42.6 percent is true.

However, using the NBS data, the claim by Omigbodun is false because it is 40.1 percent as against the 42.6 percent he claimed.

How true are claims on mining companies in Osun State?

Niyi Oyedeji
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How true are claims on mining companies in Osun State?

AKIN OGUNBIYI, the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun state has claimed that there are five licensed mining companies operating in the state.

He further added that the government handed the licences to Chinese companies, saying they could have partnered with internationally-recognised mining companies.

Ogunbiyi made these claims on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, during the Osun governorship debate streamed live on Arise Television.

READ: Video does not show Osun governor, Adeleke dancing half-naked

“This government has five licences. Instead of partnering with internationally recognised mining companies, they chose to partner with the Chinese,” he said.

From his comments, the following claims were established:

CLAIMS

  1. That Osun state has five licensed mining companies.
  2. That the five licensed mining companies in Osun state belonged to the Chinese.

CLAIM 1: Osun state has five licensed mining companies

THE FINDINGS: Available data show that the claim is TRUE.

According to the data from Nigeria’s Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, there are five valid mineral title holders in Osun State.

The five companies are Kareem Mutiu Adubi, Nigerian Mining Corporation Inc, Nigerian Mining Corporation Inc (same NMC but with another Licence ID), Omoluabi Mineral Promotion Company Limited and Segilola Resources Operating Ltd.

Screenshot of the mining titles holders (operators) in Osun State as seen on the ministry’s website: portal.minesandsteel.gov.ng

CLAIM 2: The five licensed mining companies in Osun state belonged to the Chinese

THE FINDINGS: Available data show that the claim is FALSE.

Data from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development show that the Nigerian Mining Corporation Inc. (NMC) owned two of the five licensed titles. Additional findings from the Bureau of Public Enterprises show that the NMC is 100% owned and funded by the Federal Government under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

ALSO READ: Osun Decides 2022: Old video of Iyiola Omisore sharing money resurfaces online

Also, Segilola Resources Operating Limited (RC – 1103991) and Omoluabi Mineral Promotion Company Limited (RC – 1194508) are private companies owned by Nigerians and legally registered by the nation’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) while Kareem Mutiu Adubi is identified in the ministry’s database as a corporate body but not legally registered with the CAC.

The data revealed that none of the mining companies belonged to the Chinese.

THE VERDICTS

The claim that Osun state has five licensed mining companies is TRUE, while the second claim that the five licensed mining companies in Osun state belonged to the Chinese is FALSE; data from the Nigerian government’s Ministry of Mines and Steel Development have shown.

Claim that INEC is conducting house-to-house voter’s registration in Northern Nigeria is FALSE

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Claim that INEC is conducting house-to-house voter’s registration in Northern Nigeria is FALSE

A VIRAL photo of a woman who appears to be undergoing biometric capturing in front of her residence has surfaced online with a claim that it shows an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducting voter’s registration for the woman.

The photo is circulating following allegations on social media that the INEC is conducting house-to-house voter’s registration for citizens in Nigeria’s Northern region unlike what’s obtainable in other parts of the country where citizens jostle for registration at INEC approved centres only.

READ: Video does not show INEC REC for Adamawa brutalized

A Facebook page, @Obi-dient Youth Movement posted the claim with a caption that reads:

“In the North, INEC officials go house to house to get people do their PVC registration. But in the South people go to INEC centres to register and still would not be able to register.Why? What should we do?”

The photo has garnered more than 200 reactions and over 160 shares and over 80 comments on Facebook as of Friday, 8th of July, 2022.

Another Facebook page, Peter Obi for President (PFP) also posted the claim with a similar caption.

The post has also gotten more than 390 reactions and over 480 shares alongside 170 comments as of Friday, 8th of July, 2022.

Furthermore, another Facebook user, Odince posted the claim with a caption thus: 

“PVC saga: Inec goes house to house of indigenous northerners to register them for PVC. But in the south, no sufficient machines to register for PVC. Hmm.”

The post has garnered over 50 shares on Facebook alongside several reactions.

Similarly, a Twitter account with the username, @drnell_0007 tweeted the photo with a caption that reads:

“PVC is done from house to house in the North. I wish they can extend this privilege to other part of the country.  God eppp us all.”

The tweet has garnered more than 100 retweets and over 350 likes as of Friday, 8th of July, 2022.

CLAIM

INEC is conducting house-to-house voter’s registration in Northern Nigeria.

Screenshot of one of the viral posts

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

When The FactCheckHub subjected the image to multiple reverse image search, the results show that the photo did not originate from any credible media platform.

Also, using some keywords on Google search engine, the result shows that no credible media platform reported that the INEC conducted or is conducting house to house voter’s registration in any part of the country.

When contacted by The FactCheckHub, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi clarified that the claim is false.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission has an official method of making Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) available for collection by their owners, also referred to as registered voters.

ALSO READ: 2023 election: INEC disowns fake ad-hoc staff recruitment website

“Our officials do not and cannot embark on a house-to-house distribution of PVCs. That is against our official policy,” Oyekanmi said.

“The standard practice is that, voters go to the INEC local government office covering the area where they registered to physically collect their PVCs. And before doing so, they are expected to sign or thumbprint on our designated forms for record purposes.”

He also clarified that the viral photo should be ignored as it has nothing to do with the voter’s registration for the 2023 general election.

THE VERDICT

The claim that INEC is conducting house-to-house voter’s registration in Northern Nigeria is FALSE; as the INEC debunked the claim while further findings show that no credible media platform reported such exercise.

Old photo of Kwankwaso supporters resurfaces online as he visits Gombe state

Niyi Oyedeji
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Old photo of Kwankwaso supporters resurfaces online as he visits Gombe state

FOLLOWING the visit of the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to Gombe State, an old photo of his supporters has circulated online.

A Twitter user, Engr Musa Jameel, with the username @jameel2024, who shared the image on Twitter on July 2, 2022, claimed that the picture is that of the crowd that welcomed Kwankwaso to Gombe State.

His tweet, archived here, read: “Kwankwaso #NNPP shot down Gombe state”.

READ: 2023 election: Fact-checking 12 claims made by Kwankwaso at Chatham House

CLAIM

The photo shows the crowd that welcomed Kwankwaso to Gombe State.

 

Screenshot of the misleading tweet.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Although Kwankwaso visited Gombe state on Saturday, July 2, to commission the Gombe State party office of the NNPP, according to the Independent newspaper’s report, the image shared to show forth the crowd that welcomed him is, however, old.

A Google Reverse Image Search conducted on the image revealed that it has been on the internet since 2018.

READ: LIVE-CHECK: Misinformation soars aftermath of Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential, NASS elections

Further findings revealed that the photo is that of the crowd that thronged the venue where Kwankwaso declared for the presidential bid in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on August 29, 2018.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the photo showed the crowd that welcomed Kwankwaso to Gombe State is MISLEADING; the photo is of the crowd that thronged the Abuja venue where Kwankwaso declared his presidential bid on August 29, 2018.

Researchers recommend ways to reduce viral misinformation on Twitter

Raji Olatunji
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Researchers recommend ways to reduce viral misinformation on Twitter

RESEARCHERS at the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public have recommended steps that could reduce viral misinformation on Twitter.

Following a study carried out to look at millions of tweets, several steps were found to be effective in curtailing the spread of false information on the microblogging platform.

The study’s findings published in the Journal Nature revealed that the combination of multiple measures which include; de-platforming repeat misinformation offenders, removing false claims and warning people about posts that contain false information, could help reduce the volume of misinformation on Twitter by 53.4%.

READ: ‘Blue Check’ verified accounts are flooding Twitter with misinformation – Report

The researchers assessed twenty-three million tweets related to the 2020 presidential election in the United States, from September 1 to December 15.

Each of the posts was said to be connected to at least one of 544 viral events that were identified by the researchers.

The researchers were able to determine different measures that Twitter could apply to its platform to curtail the spread of misinformation, using the model which was created from the data gotten from the assessment of the tweets.

 

According to one of the co-authors of the study, Jevin West, an associate professor at the University of Washington Information School and director of the Centre, adopting one of those measures could be effective, but there could be diminishing returns.

The study found that combining multiple measures would bring about significant improvement in the results.

Recommending de-platforming and removal of the misinformation from the platform as the most effective, the study suggests that Twitter implement a three-strike rule.

“We should take that one [de-platforming] serious, especially with discussions of free speech,” West said.

He noted that using Twitter’s algorithm to make posts or accounts spreading false information less visible on the platform would be effective.

But Twitter, like other social media sites, has spent the past two years trying to stop false information about the 2020 US presidential election and COVID-19 from spreading on its platform.

Twitter already takes some measures related to this, including making tweets from offending accounts ineligible for recommendation, preventing offending posts from showing up in search, and moving replies from offending accounts to a lower position in conversations, according to Twitter’s policy page.

ALSO READ: EXPLAINER: Twitter checkmarks and what they symbolise

The study also references nudges. These are the warnings and tags used on tweets advising people that a post has false info. Twitter has made use of these extensively throughout the COVID-19 pandemic regarding misinformation about the virus, treatments and vaccines.

When asked for comment, a Twitter spokesperson said many of the measures explored in the study are already part of its misinformation policies. They also pointed to the company’s “How we address misinformation on Twitter” page.

Meanwhile, the researchers, according to West, chose Twitter first because it was the easiest platform to gather data on.

He said the next step would be to use the model on other platforms like Facebook.

Adobe releases new open-source tools to tackle visual misinformation

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Adobe releases new open-source tools to tackle visual misinformation

AMERICAN multinational computer software company, Adobe Inc., has released three new open-source tools intended to make it easier to verify the authenticity of visual content and trace where it came from.

The initiative is part of the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), a cross-industry group first announced by Adobe Inc. in 2019 to address digital misinformation and verify visual content.

“One of the main goals of the CAI is to tackle the spread of digital misinformation by making it easier to access the history of content to see when and how it was created. One area that this could help is in the rise of deepfakes imagery,” CAI senior director, Andy Parsons, said in a blogpost.

READ: TikTok announces measures to combat misinformation, hate speech ahead of Pakistan elections

Deepfakes use a form of artificial intelligence to combine and superimpose existing images and videos to make fake images of people or make it look like a person has said or done something they have not.

“With the new tools, a social media platform could plug in the Adobe-provided JavaScript and quickly have all of its images and videos displaying the content credentials, which appear as a mouse-over icon in the upper-right corner.

“That implementation could take a couple of developers a few weeks instead of requiring a dedicated team and a larger software buildout,” he noted.

The new open-source tools help to authenticate digital content and “integrate content provenance” across web, mobile or desktop projects.

Parsons said the new tools available include a JavaScript SDK, C2PA Tool, and a Rust SDK. “These tools are designed to let developers build functions displaying content credentials in browsers, or make custom desktop and mobile apps that can create, verify and display content credentials. 

“There is also a tool to let developers use their command line to explore content details.

Cholera misinformation killed 23 in Mozambique -Police

“Today’s announcement is the latest step forward in our work to address the pervasive issue of misinformation and disinformation across the digital ecosystem, empowering creators to develop and share their stories with proper attribution and protection,” Parsons stated.

“Being active in open-source communities enables CAI to empower developers around the world to create interoperable solutions, native to their applications, that will help advance the adoption of content provenance across a wide array of use cases. We can’t wait to see what the community builds with these raw materials,” he added.

The underlying standard of these tools stems from C2PA, which aims to address the prevalence of misleading information online through the development of technical standards. Some of the organisations involved in C2PA are Intel, Microsoft, Sony, and Arm.

IFCN condemns Philippine government’s decision to shut down Rappler

Niyi Oyedeji
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IFCN condemns Philippine government’s decision to shut down Rappler

FACT-CHECKERS across the globe under the auspices of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) have condemned the decision of the Philippine government to revoke Rappler’s ability to operate in the country.

The Philippine government had ordered that Rappler, a news platform co-founded by Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, be shut down, saying it violated foreign ownership rules.

The IFCN, in a statement signed by nearly 70 fact-checking organizations from 55 countries, said the decision is an attempt to silence press coverage in the Philippines.

READ: IFCN announces application for ENGAGE phase of the Google’s Global Fact Check Fund

“It is disappointing to see that the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission affirmed its earlier decision to revoke the certificates of incorporation of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation, effectively prohibiting Rappler from operating in the country,” it reads.

The IFCN stated that it is outrageous and disgraceful that the immediate-past administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, in the final days of his presidency would attempt to shut down one of the largest publications in the Philippines.

“Rappler has a storied history of showcasing corruption and wrongdoing on the part of powerful people in the Philippines. Through this lens, the legal action against Rappler can and should be viewed as retaliation,” it added.

ALSO READ: IFCN awards $1million to 20 fact-checking organizations to expand operations

The IFCN said it is dedicated to supporting press freedom and fact-checkers globally, adding that Rappler deserves to continue publishing and hold power and the government accountable without the threat of reprisal.

“The precedent set by revoking Rappler’s ability to operate in the Philippines is alarming to fact-checkers and journalists worldwide who work every day to bring truth to the public, in democracies and repressive governments alike,” it stated.

Claim that PDP has sacked Iyorchia Ayu as its national chairman is FALSE

Niyi Oyedeji
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Claim that PDP has sacked Iyorchia Ayu as its national chairman is FALSE

ON WEDNESDAY, 29th of June 2022, a news report circulates online with a claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has sacked Senator Iyorchia Ayu as its National Chairman.

A Twitter user, LMAN with the username @L_man__, claimed that the PDP has sacked the party chairman for misappropriation.

He added that the party has appointed its Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum  as its acting chairman.

READ: Image on branded bags of rice shows PDP chieftain not Peter Obi

“BREAKING PDP NWC Kicks Out Senator Iyorcha Ayu As National Chairman For Misappropriation,  Appionts Damagum As Acting Chairman . PDP In Crisis !,” his tweet read.

The news was also published by blogs such as 9newsng and dezmayorz.

CLAIM

PDP sacks Senator Iyorchia Ayu as its National Chairman, appoints Damagum as acting chairman.

A screenshot of the viral tweet.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

PDP’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in a statement seen by The FactCheckHub, revealed that he is currently on a two-week leave.

The statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communication, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said Ayu will be back next week to resume duties, specifically on July 6, 2022.

“It was in that acting capacity that he (Damagum) today, presided over the inauguration of the Osun State Gubernatorial Campaign Council, headed by the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, H.E. Douye Diri.

“If not that the authors of the mischievous and baseless Facebook posts were out to serve nefarious interests, they would have heard when the acting national chairman, Amb. Damagun, said during the ceremony today: “On behalf of my able National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, I hereby inaugurate you.”

“The general public is, therefore, advised to ignore the mischievous social media publications as they are purely the work of mischief-makers and idle minds,” the statement reads.

Similarly, the PDP national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, has described the news of the replacement of Ayu as false.

ALSO READ: Old photo resurfaces online, attributed to Osun PDP mega rally

Ologunagba in a statement said the report is the handiwork of people that are trying to destabilize the party.

“Such a report is completely false and a product of the imagination of mischief makers with the intent to destabilize our Party, create an impression of crisis within our ranks and mislead the unsuspecting members of the public,” he stated.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the PDP has sacked Senator Iyorchia Ayu as its national chairman and appointed Umar Damagum in his place is FALSE; as findings show that Damagum is acting in the party’s chairmanship capacity, while Ayu is away on leave.

Photo does NOT show Tinubu with his primary school classmates

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Photo does NOT show Tinubu with his primary school classmates

AHEAD of Nigeria’s 2023 general election, a group photo of some young school children has gone viral on social media with a claim that it shows the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his primary school classmates.

The pupils were seen seated in a row; amidst them is a white woman who appeared to be their teacher.

In the photo, a pupil was labelled with an arrow with a caption that indicates that the child was Tinubu amidst his classmates when he was in primary school.

ALSO READ: Akpabio repeats false claim about Lagos IGR under Tinubu 

The photo has been circulating online amidst controversy over Tinubu’s primary and secondary school certificates.

Tinubu had told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the academic certificates he received from his primary and secondary schools were missing.

The former governor of Lagos state further averred that he had two degrees from two American universities, which were allegedly stolen by ‘unknown soldiers’ during the military junta in 1994.

He made the disclosure in an affidavit submitted to the INEC as part of his eligibility filings for the 2023 presidential election.

In the said affidavit, Tinubu left the columns for his primary and secondary education unticked, eliciting mixed reactions among Nigerians.

A Twitter account with the username @vakkai tweeted the claim with a caption that read: “Master Ogunlere Amoda Yekini with his classmates in 1947. The 9 year old pupil is fondly referred to today as “BOLA TINUBU”. ”

The tweet has been retweeted more than 190 times and garnered more than 360 likes as of Thursday morning.

Another Twitter user, @Gen_Buhar tweeted the photo with a caption thus: 

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his primary school classmates. It’s a shame that people you thought were a bit smart fell for such a cheap lie. No wonder they spent 7 years looking at the left ear. What a shame. When you allow yourself to be mislead by Bode George that has no Proper children’s. Since he has been convicted no one can cure his depression since then.”

The tweet has garnered over 40 retweets and more than 100 likes as of Thursday morning.

A Facebook page, Forest Reporters posted the photo with a caption that read: “Master Ogunlere Amoda Yekini with his classmates in 1947. The 9 year old pupil is fondly referred to today as “BOLA TINUBU”.”

The post has generated more than 3,000 likes, over 3,000 comments, and more than 2,500 shares.

Another Facebook page, Daybreak News, also posted the photo with a similar caption that read: “Picture of Asiwaju  Bola Ahmed Tinubu with his Primary School Classmates surfaces. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended St John’s Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos State.”

The photo was also circulated on several WhatsApp groups.

CLAIM

That photo shows Tinubu with his primary school classmates.

Screenshot of the viral claim on Facebook.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

When The FactCheckHub subjected the image to Google Reverse Image Search, the result shows that the image has been online since 2015.

According to several online mediums such as Herald Nigeria and Linda Ikeji Blog, the photo shows Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with his primary school classmates in Corona Primary School, Lagos state.

ALSO READ: Photo of Obi in handshakes with Tinubu is FAKE!

The photo was also among the pictures published in May 2022 by Newswire under an article that featured Osinbajo’s biography.

There is no credible medium that portrays the image as that of Tinubu with his primary school classmates. Also, it was not posted by Tinubu or any of his media aides.

When contacted by The FactCheckHub, Osinbajo’s media aide, Laolu Akande, confirmed that the photo is that of Vice President Osinbajo.

“The image has gone round several times. It’s the VP,” he said.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the photo shows Bola Tinubu with his primary school classmates is FALSE; as findings show that the image is that of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. 

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