Media stakeholders have called on Nigerian journalists to embrace training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and adopt ethical standards in its usage, as AI continue to reshape the global media landscape. This call was made during a special lecture organized by GreenLand News Magazine to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2025, held in Abuja with the theme: “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.”
Speaking as the first keynote speaker, Princess Hajia Nana Hauwa Yussuff, Director General of Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, likened the current AI revolution to themes in Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel Brave New World, warning that AI could be used to subtly control information and societal values.
“Artificial Intelligence, if not carefully regulated, could condition citizens from a young age to adopt values through entertainment and hypnotic messaging, prioritizing efficiency and stability over individuality,” she cautioned.
In her presentation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Eunice Ishola, Provost, College of Community Health at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, emphasized the need for journalists and editors to be properly trained to critically assess AI tools and understand their limitations. She also advocated for the establishment of regulatory frameworks to ensure press freedom and algorithmic fairness.
“Ethical guidelines such as disclosing when AI is used in content creation must become standard practice,” she said. “Collaboration between technologists, journalists, and civil society is essential in building AI systems that reflect democratic values and uphold journalistic integrity.”
Earlier in her welcome address, Amb. Dr. Peace Ofeoshi, Editor-in-Chief of GreenLand News Magazine, highlighted the growing challenges Nigerian journalists face, including threats to safety, financial instability, political pressure, and legal restrictions. She pointed out that investigative journalists often face harassment, arbitrary arrests, and violence from both state and non-state actors.
The event also featured the presentation of Role Model Awards to several distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to media and public service. Awardees included:
Prof. Linda Kwon-Ndung, Federal University of Lafia
Comrade Engr. Maryann Ada Mbanaso, Chairperson, PENGASSAN Women Commission
Princess Hajia Nana Hauwa Yussuff, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation
Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser on Media to the Kogi State Governor
Dr. Aishat Umar, Bayero University, Kano
Dr. Oluwatoyin Eunice Ishola, Bingham University Teaching Hospital
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Comrade Engr. Maryann Ada Mbanaso thanked the organizers for the recognition and encouraged fellow honorees to continue contributing meaningfully to society.
The Chairperson of the occasion, Dr. Aishat Umar, underscored the critical role of the media in informing, educating, and entertaining the public. She urged journalists to remain objective in their reportage despite mounting pressures.
The GreenLand News lecture served as a platform for thought leaders to deliberate on the intersection of technology and journalism, reaffirmed the need for responsible innovation in the media space.
