By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Federal Government has stepped up its campaign against fake news and hate speech, as senior executives of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, completed a specialised cyber forensics training organised by the Digital Bridge Institute, DBI.

The three-day intensive programme, held at DBI’s Abuja facility, focused on Cyber Forensics and Digital Evidence Gathering, equipping top NBC officials with practical skills to detect, investigate and document violations of broadcasting laws in the digital space.

Speaking on the objective of the training, Mr. Emeka Nzeih, Head of Learning and Development at DBI, said the course was designed to strengthen the commission’s capacity to monitor broadcast platforms, social media and websites for infractions.

According to him, participants were trained on how to identify, capture and analyse digital evidence in ways that would stand up to legal scrutiny and regulatory hearings.

He noted that the training was aligned with the provisions of the Evidence Act and NBC hearing requirements, ensuring that digital materials gathered during investigations would be admissible in proceedings.

The course also addressed investigative approaches to offences such as hate speech and the dissemination of false information—issues that have remained a major concern for regulators amid the rapid growth of digital broadcasting and online content.

Participants commended the depth of knowledge demonstrated by DBI instructors and expressed satisfaction with the practical orientation of the sessions.

Head of Public Affairs at DBI, Soji-Ezekiel Fagbemi, said the initiative reflects the institute’s commitment to supporting regulatory institutions with the technical expertise required to navigate evolving digital challenges.

Observers say the development signals a likely intensification of enforcement measures by the NBC as the Federal Government strengthens institutional capacity to curb misinformation and uphold broadcasting standards.