Artificial Intelligence-Based Programmes for Community Leaders to Prevent Digital Misinformation at the Grassroots in Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Community Leaders, Digital Misinformation, Grassroots, Development, Adult Education And Digital LiteracyAbstract
This study investigated the perceived roles of Artificial Intelligence programmes in empowering community leaders to prevent digital misinformation at the grassroots in Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey of 550 community leaders and a researcher-developed questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.88), the study assessed four AI programme domains: AI-assisted media and information literacy, conversational virtual assistants, AI-powered translation/multilingual communication tools, and AI social-media monitoring. Respondents rated the extent to which each programme enhanced leaders’ capacities to verify, translate, monitor, and respond to misinformation; all four domains recorded grand means above the 2.50 acceptance threshold (range ~3.01–3.10), indicating high perceived effectiveness. Findings suggest that AI tools can strengthen community leaders’ ability to detect and curb misinformation, particularly by improving verification skills, multilingual communication, and early detection via monitoring. However, the study’s purposive sampling and reliance on self-reported perceptions limit causal inference and generalisability. The authors recommend regular AI training for leaders, investment in connectivity and infrastructure, development of indigenous-language AI applications, and partnerships with fact-checking organisations to support evidence-based community communication.
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