Nigerian named first runner-up in US competition

A doctoral student in communication at North Dakota State University, Paul Agada, has emerged as the first runner-up in the 2026 Westphal Student Paper Competition convened by the Iowa Communication Association in the United States.

The Nigerian scholar’s study on X won him the prize.

A statement available to Diaspora Tales said the paper examined X’s Community Notes feature and explored the perception of users for its effectiveness, credibility, and influence on their online behaviour.

The study was published to address the ongoing concerns about the rapid spread of misinformation on social media and growing interest in alternative approaches to professional and institutional fact-checking.

“Unlike traditional fact-checking systems that rely primarily on professional organisations or institutional gatekeepers, Community Notes allows users to collaboratively provide additional context to posts considered potentially misleading,” the statement said.

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Reacting to the award, Agada said being named first runner-up in the competition was a recognition of his study’s contribution to continued academic conversations on misinformation, digital media credibility, and the changing role of audiences in verifying information online.

“I am delighted to have emerged as first runner-up for this competition convened by a renowned association; it is a testament to the quality of scholarly work done as well as the salience of the subject investigated.

“Misinformation is a pertinent discourse in society, so scholars like myself have to continually study how to curtail its creation and widespread dissemination,” Agada said.

Biodun Busari is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience reporting on human interest, crime, diaspora issues, and feature storytelling. He focuses on producing engaging, informative stories that enlighten the public and provide context on complex topics. Biodun’s work demonstrates hands-on newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accurate, purpose-driven journalism.

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