The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerian media organisations to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation while upholding professional ethics, editorial independence and journalistic integrity.
Idris gave the advice in Abuja this Thursday during the unveiling of Media Trust Group’s AI-powered converged newsroom, which he described as a significant investment in the development of Nigerian journalism.
He congratulated the organisation’s board, management and staff on its transformation from a newspaper publisher into a diversified multimedia enterprise, noting that the integration of print, broadcast and digital platforms was necessary to meet changing audience expectations.
“Technology is fundamentally transforming journalism, creating exciting opportunities through artificial intelligence, data journalism and multimedia storytelling. However, innovation must strengthen, rather than diminish, the professional judgement, ethical standards and human responsibility upon which credible journalism rests,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to press freedom, constructive engagement and the right of journalists to scrutinise public institutions.
He also emphasised the need for sustainable media business models to support employment, attract investment and contribute to national development.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Idris urged media organisations to prioritise accuracy, fairness and fact-checking while resisting sensationalism and disinformation.
He warned that AI-generated content, manipulated images and deepfakes posed increasing threats to public trust, stressing that the credibility of the country’s democratic process depended partly on the integrity of information available to citizens.
“The credibility of our democratic process depends, in no small measure, on the integrity of the information available to citizens,” he said.
Idris urged Media Trust Group to position its converged newsroom as a centre of innovation, investigative excellence and responsible storytelling, adding that journalism could inspire the public without sacrificing its independence or critical role in society.
He also challenged the perception that journalism must always be adversarial, declaring that “the idea that journalism has to be exclusively adversarial is a myth that needs to be jettisoned.”
In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, commended Media Trust Group for its entrepreneurial vision, professionalism and contributions to national development through investment and job creation.
He urged the organisation to sustain its ethical standards and use its platforms to promote national unity.
“What you are doing should always aim at uniting this country,” Barau said.
The Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, described the adoption of artificial intelligence by Media Trust Group as a significant technological achievement, particularly at a time when distinguishing authentic content from fabricated images, videos and voices had become increasingly difficult.
He called on media organisations to prioritise verification and responsible innovation.
“I want to congratulate Media Trust, which is the first in West Africa to establish an AI newsroom,” Namadi said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the agency’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy supports the adoption of AI across different sectors, including the media.
He, however, stressed that the technology should enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.
Abdullahi encouraged journalists to deploy AI tools to strengthen fact-checking, verify information and improve public confidence in the media.
“Today, in the era of AI, we want to see you using AI to verify everything,” he said.
The event was attended by media executives, chief executives of media organisations, senior government officials, industry stakeholders and other dignitaries.
