Deborah Akwa

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Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/wole-soyinka-us-visa-revoked-2025102912321712294">Prof Wole Soyinka, recently revealed that the United States has revoked his visa</a>, barring him from entering the North American country.&nbsp;

The news has sparked widespread discussions, not just because of Soyinka&rsquo;s global reputation as a literary icon, but also because such bans are rare for prominent individuals.&nbsp;

While the U.S. government has not given a clear reason for the decision, other than claiming that “additional information became available.” The prize-winning author suggested it might be linked to his outspoken political views.

RELATED: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/wole-soyinka-us-visa-revoked-2025102912321712294">Beyond the Nobel: Why Would the U.S. Revoke Wole Soyinka's Visa?</a>

However, his case isn&rsquo;t the first of its kind. Several well-known people, including former presidents, activists and lawmakers, have found themselves on America&rsquo;s no-entry list, often for reasons related to politics, corruption allegations, or security concerns.

In this article, we look at five notable personalities who have been banned or denied entry into the United States, starting with the most recent case, involving the Nigerian literary icon.

<h2>1. Wole Soyinka (Nigeria)</h2>

Nigeria&rsquo;s Nobel Prize-winning author announced at a Media briefing on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, that his U.S. non-immigrant visa was revoked, meaning he is now barred from entering the United States.

Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature, stated that the revocation hand-written letter cited “additional information became available after the visa was issued.”&nbsp;

He cracked a joke while conversing with the reporters, saying, “I have no visa, I am banned”. Soyinka suspects it may be linked to his outspoken criticism of U.S. policies and his comparison of former President Donald Trump to Ugandan Dictator Idi Amin.&nbsp;

RELATED: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/wole-soyinka-kidnapped-robbed-romania-2025091206373702846">Nobel Laureate vs. Taxi Scammer: How Wole Soyinka outsmarted his kidnapper</a>

<h2>2. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (Argentina)</h2>

In March 2025, former President of Argentina, Fernández, was banned from entering the U.S. due to alleged involvement in “significant corruption” while in office. The U.S. State Department also banned the then-Planning Minister, Julio Miguel De Vido, and his family.

RELATED: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/food-and-travel/africans-who-changed-history-2024072616483522624">Wole Soyinka and 6 other Africans who changed the course of history</a>

<h2>3. Pouria Amirshahi (France)</h2>

In June 2025, a French member of parliament and activist, Amirshahi was denied entry to the U.S. ahead of a planned visit to meet with lawmakers, civil society figures, and intellectuals, despite having previously travelled to America.&nbsp;

The Iranian-born parliamentarian stated;

<blockquote>This is the first time in 240 years of relations between our two countries that a parliamentarian has been refused entry to the United States.</blockquote>

The activist also believes the decision may have been politically motivated.&nbsp;

RELATED: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/world/nigerias-soyinka-rejects-presidential-frontrunners-2024081008203589427">Nigeria's Soyinka rejects presidential frontrunners</a>

<h2>4. Anjem Choudary (United Kingdom)</h2>

A British Islamist activist, Choudary was designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by the U.S. Department of State in March 2017. This action included asset freezing and prohibitions on entry. His case highlights how the U.S. uses visa bans to counter individuals it considers threats.

RELATED: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/why-wole-soyinka-prefers-traditional-worship-over-christianity-and-islam-2024102811151470082">Soyinka explains preference for traditional worship over Christianity, Islam</a>

<h2>5. Desi Bouterse (Suriname)</h2>

The former President of Suriname, Bouterse and six former military officials were banned from entering the U.S. in April 2024, following their conviction for extrajudicial killings.&nbsp;

The U.S. highlighted that they are involved in the so-called “December Murders” and serious human rights abuses, which were the primary reasons for the ban.&nbsp;

RELATED: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/local/coson-commends-fg-for-renaming-national-arts-theatre-after-soyinka-2024072707351100938">Copyright society praises Tinubu for renaming National Arts Theatre after Soyinka</a>

<h2>Impact Of The U.S Ban</h2>

Generally, being banned from the U.S. can significantly impact a person's ability to travel internationally, pursue academic opportunities, accept speaking invitations, and engage in business.

Based on the list above, which includes a writer, a politician, and an activist, it means no single profile, whether notable or not, is immune to a U.S. ban.

Travel bans reveal how politics, diplomacy, and personal actions can shape international relations, even for the world&rsquo;s most influential figures.&nbsp;

From Soyinka&rsquo;s case to other leaders, the reasons may differ, but the message remains clear: no one is above global scrutiny. Whether rooted in security concerns, political disagreements, or human rights issues, these bans remind us that international travel is not just about privilege; it&rsquo;s also about perception, policy, and power.

RELATED: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/nobel-laureate-rejects-pressure-to-evaluate-tinubus-govt-2025032409273839373">Nobel laureate rejects pressure to evaluate Tinubu’s govt</a>

Notable Personalities Permanently Banned From Entering The USA

Here are five notable personalities who remain blacklisted.

5 Notable Personalities Permanently Banned From Entering The USA

Gloria Adesanya

He’s been called many names: rebel, sage, prophet, troublemaker, genius. He’s faced dictators, outlived regimes, and given Nigeria a seat at the global literary table. But in October 2025, the name Wole Soyinka trended again, not for a new book or lecture, but because his U.S. visa was reportedly revoked.The world that once praised his courage now sings a different tune with newfound names like 'Agbaya' (old fool), 'sellout', 'bigot', ‘cultist’ and 'loudmouth'. What happened?

<h2>The Story Everyone’s Talking About</h2>

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On October 23, 2025, a handwritten-style letter from the United States Consulate General in Lagos landed on the desk of Wole Soyinka, informing the 91-year-old Nobel laureate that his <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24lzd32yjeo">non-immigrant U.S. visa had been revoked</a>.&nbsp;The reason? Simply stated: “additional information became available” after the visa was issued, with no further explanation offered. But what could the additional information be? We’ll get to that in subsequent paragraphs.&nbsp;Soyinka, a regular Visiting Professor at top U.S. universities for decades, showed the letter to reporters in Lagos and declared, <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/28/wole-soyinka-nobel-us-visa-trump">“I have no visa; I am banned.”</a>&nbsp;According to The Cable, he explained that he applied for the visa after receiving a letter from the <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.thecable.ng/rewind-in-2016-soyinka-destroyed-his-us-green-card-after-trumps-victory/">U.S. Internal Revenue Service</a> regarding an audit of his tax returns. He said his visit was intended to address the tax matter and avoid being publicly portrayed by the U.S. as a “tax dodger”.

READ MORE: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/wole-soyinka-kidnapped-robbed-romania-2025091206373702846">Nobel Laureate vs. Taxi Scammer: How Wole Soyinka outsmarted his kidnapper</a>.

<h2>A Toxic Love Story: Soyinka’s Long History with the U.S.</h2>

This isn’t Wole Soyinka’s first collision with America’s politics. In fact, it feels like history circling back with a cruel sense of irony.In 2016, just before Donald Trump was inaugurated as U.S. president, Soyinka, then based partly in the United States, made international headlines when he vowed to destroy his U.S. green card if Trump were to win.&nbsp;

<blockquote>“The moment they announce Trump’s victory, I will <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.thecable.ng/rewind-in-2016-soyinka-destroyed-his-us-green-card-after-trumps-victory/">cut my green card</a> myself and start packing up,”</blockquote>

Days later, he confirmed that he had indeed destroyed the card, telling reporters,

<blockquote>“I have already done it; I have disengaged (from the United States)... As long as Trump is in charge, if I absolutely have to visit the United States, I prefer to queue for a regular visa with others.”</blockquote>

To Soyinka, Trump’s victory symbolised a moral decline. He described the new administration as “a dangerous expression of racial superiority and political arrogance.”Following the act, major American outlets such as CNN, NPR, and The New York Times sought interviews to discuss his decision. Yet Soyinka declined all invitations, refusing to renew or maintain his visa just to appear on U.S. media platforms.Now, nearly a decade later, that same defiant relationship with the United States has resurfaced, this time with the revocation of his visa. So, who is Wole Soyinka, and why was his visa revoked?

READ MORE: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/nobel-laureate-rejects-pressure-to-evaluate-tinubus-govt-2025032409273839373">Nobel laureate rejects pressure to evaluate Tinubu’s govt</a>.

<h2>Who Really Is Wole Soyinka?</h2>

Born in 1934 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka has lived several lives in one lifetime. He’s been a playwright, a professor, a fugitive, a political prisoner, a global thinker, and a keeper of Yoruba spirituality.His acclaimed works, Death and the King's Horseman, Ake, The Man Died, A Dance of the Forests, and The Interpreters, use storytelling to capture societal and religious nuances and political oppression.

READ MORE: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/food-and-travel/africans-who-changed-history-2024072616483522624">Wole Soyinka and 6 other Africans who changed the course of history</a>

He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to do so. But if a man could storm into a radio station with a gun in 1965, demanding to broadcast the truth when politicians tried to steal an election, then surely, he is no ordinary man.So, beyond all these, what is people’s perception of him, and what could the US government be referring to as “additional information”?

<h3>1. Promotion of Cultism and Violence</h3>

Soyinka's early involvement in the Pyrate Confraternity (founded 1952) is blamed for normalising secret cults in Nigerian universities, leading to widespread violence.The U.S. visa revocation (2025) is suspected to be tied to the FBI tracing U.S. crimes to his "cult groups".

<h3>2. Alleged CIA Ties and Western Sellout</h3>

In 2020, scholar Caroline Davis published African Literature and the CIA: Networks of Authorship and Publishing, arguing that the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) covertly supported front organisations that helped<a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://johannesburgreviewofbooks.com/2022/05/02/wole-soyinka-vs-caroline-davis-the-cia-controversy-by-adekeye-adebajo/"> boost Wole Soyinka’s international profile</a>. Soyinka responded angrily, denying any knowledge of such ties and demanding a full retraction.&nbsp;

READ MORE: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/world/nigerias-soyinka-rejects-presidential-frontrunners-2024081008203589427">Nigeria's Soyinka rejects presidential frontrunners</a>.

<h3>3. Political Hypocrisy and Selective Criticism</h3>

Soyinka is frequently accused of biased scrutiny of leaders, harshly criticising some while defending or aligning with others, often along ethnic or regional lines (favouring Yoruba interests).

<h3>Ethnic and Religious Bigotry</h3>

Critics claim Soyinka's words support Yoruba dominance and are anti-Igbo or anti-Muslim, which goes against his work for human rights.In discussions with Ali Mazrui in the 1990s, he described Islam as a "seductive superstition" forced by violence, a view similar to colonial ideas. He dismissed Muslim scholars for being too sympathetic to Arab-Islamic views.

READ MORE: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/why-wole-soyinka-prefers-traditional-worship-over-christianity-and-islam-2024102811151470082">Soyinka explains preference for traditional worship over Christianity, Islam</a>.

In Nigeria, Soyinka is untouchable. But beyond our borders, systems don’t bend for legends, only for law.Behind the fiery speeches, defiant actions, and symbolic hair is an old man navigating a world that doesn’t care about titles.In the end, the story looms larger than America or a revoked visa.

The world that once praised Wole Soyinka’s courage now sings a different tune.

Beyond the Nobel: Why Would the U.S. Revoke Wole Soyinka's Visa?

Segun Adeyemi

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<h2>Nobel Laureate and literary icon Prof Wole Soyinka has opened up about his spiritual preference for traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam. </h2>

Speaking with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka explained his deep connection to Orisa worship, citing its cultural roots and creative mystique.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Soyinka noted, “I was fortunate to be born in two worlds – the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers. My grandfather was an Orisa devotee and a chief, and his side fascinated me a lot more.”

He described Orisa worship as a unique form of African spirituality that holds distinct values, including non-violence and creativity, which he feels are lacking in mainstream religions.

Soyinka delved further into the artistic allure of Orisa, highlighting its appeal compared to other faiths.

“For me, it was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious,” he said.

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While acknowledging his limited exposure to Islam, Soyinka emphasised that Christianity and Islam lack the mystical essence he finds in Orisa worship. “I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam.”

The acclaimed playwright also expressed discomfort with personal portrayals in adaptations of his life and works, stating, “Turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable.”

He admitted it’s challenging to watch such adaptations, often feeling detached from the dramatised versions of his experiences.

Soyinka’s reflections reveal a profound reverence for African spiritual heritage, illustrating why Orisa worship remains a central aspect of his life and identity.

Prof Wole Soyinka, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature.  [Getty Images]

Nobel Laureate and literary icon Prof Wole Soyinka has opened up about his spiritual preference for traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam.

Soyinka explains preference for traditional worship over Christianity, Islam

Precious 'Mamazeus' Nwogu

Nigeria's Nobel Prize winner, Wole Soyinka is set to debut a new novel set in a contemporary version of Nigeria.

Published by Bloomsbury, the novel titled 'Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth' is a political and social satire based on the Nigerian elite political class.

Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth Book cover [Amazon]

The official synopsis reads:&nbsp;"Celebrated engineer, Yoruba royal and life and soul of every party, Duyole Pitan-Payne is about to assume his prestigious UN post in New York—only someone is determined that he not make it there. His childhood friend Dr Menka needs to know why, but finds that there are some questions you may not wish to learn the answers to. From a master storyteller comes a brutally clear-sighted look at the nature of greed, power and the soul of a nation."

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The revered Playwright, novelist is credited with over 50 literary works including 30 plays. 'Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth' is his third novel. His last novel was 'Season of Anatomy' in 1972.

Prof Wole Soyinka the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.  (PremiumTimes)

'Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth' will be available on September 28, 2021.

Wole Soyinka debuts first novel in 48 years 'Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth'

Bayo Wahab

<h1>Due to the recent controversies surrounding the operations of the South-West Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said that efforts must be made to ensure the security outfit does not become another Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.&nbsp;</h1>

There have been allegations of recklessness and <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/metro/amotekun-denies-killing-ui-student-says-the-decease-was-an-armed-robber/f8srptm">extrajudicial killings against operatives of the security outfit</a>, especially in Oyo State recently.

But while speaking on Saturday, January 9, 2021, on a programme on Arise TV, Soyinka said Amotekun corps need to be trained to understand the essence of their job.&nbsp;

He said Amotekun operatives must be trained on ethics so that they don’t become brutal and ruthless like men of the defunct police unit.&nbsp;

He said, “I have told them anytime you want us to come and assist, we will come even if it is just on the ethical session so that as you are training them to defend us, we are also training their minds so that Amotekun does not become another SARS, very important. We must do everything together.”

While Amotekun operatives have started operations in Ondo and Oyo state, Soyinka urges other states in the South-West region that are yet to launch their security outfits to do so quickly as the challenge of insecurity has reached a “stage of desperation”.

Soyinka says Amotekun operatives must be trained on ethics so that they don’t become brutal and ruthless like SARS.

Soyinka says Amotekun must not become another SARS

<h1>Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka says he was disappointed by a comment made by the late Prof Chinua Achebe after he (Soyinka) won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.</h1>

Soyinka said this during a conversation with Okey Ndibe, an American-based Nigerian novelist, which was on Channels Television’s Book Club.

During the conversation, Ndube asked Soyinka how he took the statement by the renowned novelist that&nbsp;“The Nobel Prize did not make one the Asiwaju of African Literature.”

Soyinka said he considered the remark by Achebe uncalled for and disappointing, ThePunch reports.

Chinua Achebe speaking about Things Fall Apart

He said,&nbsp;“The subject was not even literature when he (Achebe) made that statement and so I was disappointed that he created a nexus between my normal sociopolitical life and my normal way of articulating an opinion.

“It was almost like because I won the Nobel Prize, I have no right to offer, to do what I used to do before all my life. I responded to it, even though I wanted to make light of it. I was a little bit disappointed and I didn’t see the necessity; that particular subject, which was under contention, didn’t relate to literature. So, it was like, oh, am I now to carry this burden for the rest of my life? That people will think I am doing what I used to do before simply because I now have a Nobel Prize.”

On how literary enthusiasts often segregate themselves into either Soyinka camp or Achebe camp, the award-winning writer said it boiled down to “ignorance”.

Prof Chinua Achebe was reported to have said “The Nobel Prize did not make one the Asiwaju of African Literature.”

Soyinka says he was disappointed by Achebe’s remark on his Nobel prize

Goodness Adaoyichie

With the elections starting in a few days, what is the BBC’s plan to combat fake news during this period?

What we are doing and what we have done is to look at what the candidates are saying – in terms of their manifesto -- and fact-check that. Basically, we select the main candidates and look at their policies on different themes and fact-check what they say. If President [Muhammadu] Buhari, Atiku Abubakar or Donald Duke says they’ll construct a thousand schools annually for four years if elected, we’ll fact-check to see if that is possible given the country’s earnings and so on. We do this to know if these are achievable or mere campaign promises.

Have you been able to fault any claim by these politicians in the race?

Yes. Not all the claims by these politicians have been accurate. We’ve fact-checked some comments on education, health and the economy. Recently, one of the candidates while talking about the accessibility to toilets in Nigeria, mentioned a figure that we felt was not correct. We checked and found out that it was wrong.

Also, President Buhari claims Boko Haram has been technically defeated. So, we did a fact-check which showed that the claim is far from the reality on the ground because the insurgents have been conducting attacks in villages and military formations, killing and displacing a lot of people. In Rann, 30,000 people crossed over to Cameroon because of the insecurity. This happened late 2018 to early this year. We were able to fault Buhari’s claim based on these facts.

Is the BBC working with other newsrooms to combat fake news? How?

Yes. We organised a conference on countering fake news in January where we drew speakers from within and outside the country including the Director, BBC World Service Group, Jamie Angus; Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka; INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission]; and other stakeholders.

Over the last three to four months, we have also organised workshops for journalists and students on how to identify fake news and counter same. Soon, we will roll out workshop plans for students in Abuja and Lagos to equip them to identify and counter fake news. We’ve done so in Nairobi and India. Nigeria is the next market.

How has the BBC's pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa been received across Nigeria?

BBC Hausa was launched in 1957. Recently, we launched BBC Pidgin, Yoruba, and Igbo which are based in Lagos. These three language services are thriving fast and capturing the market. The Pidgin is looking at the young and vibrant audiences and because it’s a language that is more spoken than written, we have a lot of videos across our social media platforms. Yoruba and Igbo is focused on the culture of the people and also entertainment. We also look at how to get original stories of these ethnic groups as well. These services are performing remarkably well.

During these elections, we organised governorship debates in these languages across the states. Yoruba started with the Osun election in 2018; that was a huge success. They did same in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Kwara for this election. For Igbo, there were debates in Umuahia, Owerri and Abakaliki. Pidgin had debates in Uyo, Port-Harcourt and Asaba. This is an addition to what the BBC Hausa has done in northern Nigeria as they were governorship debates in Sokoto, Kano, Nasarawa and Gombe. This is the first time the BBC is doing something like this in Nigeria. Opening up our political system by bringing candidates and electorates together and giving them access to ask those who intend to represent them questions on burning national issues. It turned into a townhall meeting between the electorates and the politicians. The disabled, market women and everyone were encouraged to be there and they turned up. It opened up a new way of promoting accountability and strengthening democracy in Nigeria. This is remarkable.

Given the operating terrain in Nigeria, how has the BBC been able to cope?

Because Nigeria consumes a lot of news… With 41.3 million people consuming BBC content every week in Nigeria, this is the largest market for the BBC outside the United Kingdom. Hausa has the largest with about 20 million every week. We’ve been able to crack the market and we have achieved a lot in terms of promoting a free flow of information.

Is there always a case of inducement from politicians to your journalists when they go out? Also, are your journalists well remunerated to turn down these offers from politicians?

In terms of remuneration, I’ll say BBC journalists are paid well and they are comfortable. Here at the BBC, we have a no-nonsense policy in terms of impartiality and bribery. All our journalists go through different trainings when they are employed like anti-bribery courses and also promoting the BBC core value.

In terms of inducement from politicians, yes, we’ve had some cases. Some journalists from the Igbo service were offered money by a serving governor and they rejected it. They told the governor that they had been taken care of the BBC and that it was against the policy of the BBC for them to take what he was offering them. On social media, someone attacked them saying they were with ‘Governor A’ and you collected money. Then, the aide of the governor was the first person to reply that guy telling him that the BBC journalists did not collect a dime from the governor. If they had accepted the money, the image of the organization would have been tarnished and our independence and impartiality would be questioned.

The issue is, you need to employ professional journalists, make them comfortable to work effectively and also have red lines that no one would cross. Our journalists, over 100 in Lagos and 40 in Abuja, are purely professional. They know the reputation of the BBC and they, try as much as possible, to put their best to work. They are aware of our guidelines and values and they are all out to protect it.

Are you in Nigeria for the long haul or a fixed period?

We are here to stay. Hausa Service is over 60 years. Other languages like the Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin will soon celebrate their first anniversary and we will be celebrating them many more years to come with a lot of achievements and original content from these regions.

Finally, what’s your advice for journalists covering the election?

Generally, don’t promote fake news by publishing results that have not been authenticated by INEC. This is the only way to ensure that the election ends peacefully. If journalists are accused of publishing fake results, it would be bad for the profession. Also, I’ll advise journalists to report accurately; not only results but the conduct as well. From the accreditation process to voting and then the announcement results.

Whatever we do as journalists should be in line with the ethics of the job which is accuracy, balance, fairness, objectivity, truth and so on. By doing so, we will be promoting the peaceful conduct of the general election.

BBC Nigeria News Editor, Aliyu Tanko, says ethical journalism would help strengthen Nigeria's democracy.

With an audience reach of over 40 million weekly, Aliyu Tanko, Nigeria News Editor for the BBC World Service tells Pulse the organisation’s plan towards combating fake news during the general election and beyond.

'How BBC journalists rejected bribe from a Nigerian governor'

Barely two months to the general elections, fake news has been employed by some supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a campaign strategy to discredit one another.

It’s against this background that BBC World Service brought together stakeholders at a one-day conference tagged: “Nigeria 2019: Countering Fake News” to seek solutions to this problem ahead of the general elections.

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, a panelist at the event which took place on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, described fake news as deliberate, destructive and a likely cause of a World War 3.

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, speaks on the dangers of fake news.

Nobel laureate, Sole Soyinka, speaks on the dangers of fake news.

“I’ve said this before that fake news may cause World War III and the fake news will be started by a Nigerian,” Soyinka declared causing mixed reactions in the audience.

A young lady who sat by my left-hand-side whispered: “That is a very serious statement. Very serious,” she emphasised.

“But, fake news is serious, too. Very serious,” replied a tall, dark man by her side as she nodded in affirmation.

As calm is returned to the Congress Hall, venue of the event, Soyinka continued: “I’ve been killed several times on the internet; I actually enjoy reading my own obituary.

“Those who create fake news are sick in the head and they are also cowards because they lack the conviction of their own that beliefs and so they transfer to others what they are thinking.”

The Nobel laureate called for the criminalisation of fake news as means of reducing the menace.

“We need to accept the fact that fake news is real and it should be treated as a crime. There are already existing laws to prosecute offenders of fake news in the country,” he added.

Osinbajo on fake news

In his keynote address, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, recalled a recent incident where fake news almost caused him marital discord.

Vice President, Yemj Osinbajo, says fake photo of him and strippers almost got him in trouble with his wife, Dolapo.

“I have been one of the targets of fake news,” Osinbajo began. “It can also sometimes cause you marital peace. I got a call from my wife about three or four weeks ago and she said Yemi what are you doing with strippers and I said what do you mean by strippers? So, I read a story in a famous blog that said, ‘Osinbajo caught with strippers’.

“And there was a photograph of me sitting between two perfectly clothed ladies but underneath this picture, the same ladies were not wearing much.

“In fact-checking the photographs with these two ladies at an entertainment event were taken when they were perfectly clothed but by the time the story was put out, it was as though I had taken a photo with them at the time they were not clothed at all.

“As it turns out, I wasn’t in the picture of where they were not wearing clothes but just the caption, the stories and all that gave the impression that here I was in the company of these ladies at a point when they were doing their business. I think the capacity of fake news to cause great harm is not in doubt at all,” he stated.

Fake news and INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has also felt the heat.

Just recently, the PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan, raised an alarm that the electoral body had “appointed President Muhammadu Buhari’s niece, Amina Zakari, to announce results of the 2019 presidential elections”.

But, INEC’s national commissioner, Festus Okoye, said Zakari’s role as head of the collection center committee has nothing to do with actual collation of votes.

He noted that INEC would ensure timely release of election results in order to counter unverifiable figures that may get into the public space by purveyors of fake news.

Countering fake news

The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and Editor-in-Chief of the New Telegraph newspaper, Funke Egbemode, urged journalists to ensure that stories and claims are verified before publishing.

Similarly, the founder of Bella Naija, Uche Pedro, urged the authorities to employ technology in the dissemination of information to the public.

Paying tribute to Nigeria’s “vibrant” national and regional media, the Director of BBC World Service Group, Jamie Angus, revealed plans by his organisation to counter fake news in Nigeria, especially during the elections.

Director, BBC World Service Group, Jamie Angus, speaking at the 'Beyond Fake News' conference.

"As the internet becomes ever more accessible with cheap smart phones and free data, and as free Apps that can mimic mouths, voices and facial expressions become more sophisticated and freely available …the challenge will grow; fakes will become harder to spot, the 'cloning of President Buhari' is just a taster of what armchair deep fakers will be able to achieve," he said.

"The BBC will be doing fact checking around claims made during the election campaign. Our African digital team have been learning about specialist data journalism techniques, in order to deliver fact checks on health, education and the economy.

"A lot of what we can do to fight fake news is to use the basic tools of journalism – check the story, check the facts, check the source," he added.

Angus noted that the recent expansion of BBC West Africa was to cater for the information needs of Nigerians -- its single largest audience outside of United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Head of BBC West Africa Languages, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, delivering the welcome address at the 'Beyond Fake News' conference.

Earlier, the head of BBC Africa Languages, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, said the global media organisation would be deploying fifty reporters to all the states in Nigeria for the election coverage.

"For this election, the BBC will have about 50 reporters in Nigeria. There will be minimum of one BBC reporter per state, with some states having more than two reporters," she announced.

This, according to her, would ensure that news on the elections get to its over 34 million readers, listeners and viewers across the globe in good time thereby reducing the spread of false information.

The media organisation would also be engaging 10 governorship aspirants across selected states in a debate from Thursday, January 10, 2019.

With renewed attacks in the North-East, high unemployment rate and other economic challenges, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous black nation, is faced with yet another major problem – fake news.

Wole Soyinka