Maureen Okpe
The 2025 World Press Freedom Day celebration, organized by the by Center for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)brought together key stakeholders to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on press freedom and journalism.
The event was held in Abuja, in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) with theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,”
In his keynote address, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation,(FMINO) Mohammed Idris, described AI as “the most transformative force in modern journalism.”
Idris, represented by Director Public Relations and Protocol FMINO, Suleiman Haruna, praised its capacity to automate newsrooms and improve investigative journalism.
He however cautioned against the risks it poses to editorial integrity and truth in a diverse country like Nigeria.
The Minister revealed that Nigeria will soon host the UNESCO Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), a project approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him,the institute is set to position Nigeria as a global hub for media literacy and digital content responsibility in the age of AI.
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Adding to the policy momentum, House of Representatives Spokesman Hon. Akintunde Rotimi Jr. reaffirmed ongoing legislative efforts to regulate the ethical use of AI in Nigerian media.
Rotimi noted that, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and himself have sponsored a bill designed to safeguard press freedom, protect digital rights, and ensure the responsible deployment of AI in journalism.
He declared, “We are not legislating against innovation, we are legislating for responsibility.”
KAS Resident Representative, Marija Peran, also emohasised AI’s potential to distort truth through deepfakes and misinformation, particularly in politically sensitive environments.
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Peran said, “Technology is a tool, not a conscience.” She called for vigilance and ethical oversight in AI use. She further announced that Reporter Slam Africa—a unique journalism performance event—will hold its first-ever Nigerian edition in Lagos on May 22, 2025, showcasing six African journalists in a live storytelling competition.
CJID’s Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, echoed the call for responsible innovation, revealing that the organisation has developed AI tools aimed at empowering journalists and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities.
He emphasised the importance of inclusive AI policies that uphold press freedom and democratic values.
The event concluded with a set of key resolutions, including the development of national AI ethics guidelines for media, training for journalists in AI and data literacy, increased transparency in AI-assisted reporting, public support for the incoming UNESCO institute, and reinforcement of self-regulation mechanisms in the media industry.