Nigerian newsrooms must urgently embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven journalism or risk being left behind in a rapidly evolving media landscape, journalists and industry leaders declared on Tuesday at a media capacity-building programme organised by Chevron Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
The stakeholders said AI is redefining the practice of journalism globally, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve news gathering, fact-checking, data analysis and investigative reporting, while warning that the technology must be deployed responsibly to preserve credibility, ethics and public trust.
Speaking at the opening of the training in Abuja, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, described AI as a game changer that is transforming every stage of the news production process.
“Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant concept but a powerful tool reshaping how we gather, verify and deliver news,” she said.
She noted that AI has become increasingly valuable in helping journalists process vast amounts of information quickly and accurately.
“AI enhances our ability to analyze vast data, detect misinformation and engage audiences more effectively. It offers unprecedented opportunities to improve the speed, accuracy and reach of our reporting,” Ike added.
Against the backdrop of growing concerns over fake news and manipulated digital content, she stressed that AI-powered tools are becoming indispensable in safeguarding information integrity.
“With the rise of misinformation, especially during elections and public health crises, AI-powered platforms cross-reference claims against trusted databases and detect manipulated media like deepfakes,” she said.
While urging journalists to embrace the technology, Ike cautioned that AI must never replace professional editorial judgement.
“Embracing AI comes with ethical responsibilities. We must ensure transparency in AI algorithms and guard against biases that could skew reporting,” she said, adding, “Let us embrace innovation boldly but responsibly, ensuring that technology enhances our mission to inform, enlighten and serve society with courage and integrity.”
Also speaking, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Olusoga Oduselu, represented by Communications Manager Victor Anyaegbudike, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening journalism through sustained investment in media capacity development.
“We believe in the value derivable from developing human capital,” Oduselu said.
He described journalists as critical partners in national development whose role in shaping public discourse cannot be overstated.
“As members of the fourth estate of the realm, your role as agenda-setters and opinion moulders cannot be over-emphasised,” he said.
Oduselu disclosed that Chevron has continued to invest in the professional development of Nigerian journalists through strategic partnerships and training programmes.
According to him, since 2014, more than 120 media professionals have benefited from Chevron-sponsored programmes at Pan-Atlantic University, while over 180 journalists have participated in the company’s zonal media capacity-building initiatives.
He urged participants to deploy the knowledge acquired to promote balanced, factual and development-focused journalism.
“Continue to make your mark in the narrative of Nigeria and her multidimensional development while maintaining the ethical principles that guide your noble profession,” he said.
The training focused on the use of artificial intelligence, data journalism and emerging digital tools to improve newsroom productivity, strengthen investigative reporting and enhance coverage of Nigeria’s energy sector.
Participants were also encouraged to leverage AI for research, transcription, trend analysis and data visualisation, while ensuring that editorial decisions remain firmly under human control.
The programme comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s media industry, which is confronting declining advertising revenues, the rapid spread of misinformation and the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on traditional journalism.
Globally, leading news organisations, including Reuters, Bloomberg, the Associated Press and the BBC, have increasingly incorporated AI into newsroom operations to assist with transcription, data analysis, audience engagement and content production, while maintaining strict editorial oversight.
In Nigeria, however, the adoption of AI remains at an early stage, with many newsrooms grappling with limited resources, inadequate digital infrastructure and a shortage of specialised skills.
The Chevron-NUJ initiative is therefore seen as a timely intervention aimed at equipping journalists with the tools needed to compete in an increasingly digital media environment while reinforcing ethical journalism in an era where public trust in information is under growing pressure.
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