IPC Launches WAFLO App for Incident Reporting During Elections

The International Press Centre blazed another trail on Thursday in Osogbo when it unveiled and deployed WAFLO, a WhatsApp-enabled Live Election Incident Reporting System, an AI-assisted technology platform designed to facilitate the real-time reporting, documentation and monitoring of incidents affecting journalists and press freedom during the election.

Speaking at the unveiling, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, said the deployment of WAFLO for the Osun off-cycle governorship election is a PILOT SCHEME that aims to improve how electoral incidents affecting journalists and other media professionals, such as assault, threats, and any other infringement of the freedom of journalists on electoral duty, are quickly identified and responded to.

According to him, “WAFLO would be subsequently upgraded and expanded for full deployment during the 2027 general elections.

“The fundamental goal of WAFLO is to ensure that incidents affecting journalists do not go unnoticed or unreported. By enabling real-time reporting, verification and response, the platform provides a practical mechanism for stakeholders to quickly identify threats, assaults and other infringements and take appropriate action.

“The overarching objective of WAFLO, therefore, is to strengthen the safety of journalists and ensure that they can carry out their professional responsibilities without fear during the Osun election and subsequent ones.

The value of WAFLO, as would soon be demonstrated, lies in turning incidents into actionable information. By enabling journalists to report threats, assaults and other safety concerns in real time, the platform will help stakeholders respond more promptly and strengthen the protection of journalists covering the Osun election.

“It is to be noted that WAFLO incident reporting system provides journalists with a WhatsApp-enabled, AI-assisted reporting channel through which they can report press freedom and safety incidents as they occur.

”Journalists can access the reporting channel through the SafeMedia WhatsApp prompt @ https://dub.sh/safemedia or by typing ‘safemedia’ to:

0805 877 8053

WAFLO also represents a critical step forward by Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria – Phase Two (EU-SDGNII) Programme being implemented by the International Press Centre, IPC, and the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, in working with key stakeholders like the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to develop a broad framework for the safety of Journalists at elections.

“This is because the conditions under which journalists are permitted to work constitute a direct measure of a society’s commitment to its civic and democratic values.

“WAFLO therefore hopes to complement and reinforce existing EU-SDGNII Component 4 initiatives, including the hub’s safety of journalists desk, which is managed by:

Melody Akinjiyan, Press Freedom Officer – +234 707 854 3482
Bukola Obaujo, Safety Monitoring Officer – +234 814 633 3108

“In addition to using WAFLO, journalists are encouraged to use the hotlines and to follow the tips in the IPC Safety Advisory.

Mr Arogundade advised journalists to ensure that they are properly accredited and carry their identification cards, press/media tags and other relevant credentials always during the Osun governorship election. Doing so would help minimise unnecessary questioning, identity checks and possible obstruction by security personnel.

At the same time, we call on security agencies, political actors, election stakeholders and other relevant authorities to respect the rights of journalists to perform their constitutional and professional responsibilities without intimidation, harassment or undue interference.

“We thank the leadership of the Osun NUJ for agreeing to be part of this technology-driven approach to documenting and responding to attacks on journalists.”

SafeMedia WhatsApp prompt

@ https://dub.sh/safemedia

or by typing ‘safemedia’

text to: 0805 877 8053

Users’ guide.

After sending SAFEMEDIA, wait a few seconds for the next prompt

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