….To critically assess AI tools, recognize their limitations
By Chidi Ugwu
The GreenLand News Magazine organised a lecture to mark World Press Freedom Day 2025, with the theme Reporting in the Brave New World: “ The Impact of Artificial intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media”, today in Abuja.
Distinguished Nigerians who have given back to the society were honoured with “Role Model Award” at the occasion, among whom are: Prof. Linda Kwon-Ndung, Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies (Gender Bias on Women Empowerment) Federal University of Lafia, Comrade Engr. Maryann Ada Mbanaso, Chairperson PENGASSAN Women Commission, (PWC), Princess Hajia Nana Hauwa Yussuff, Director General, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser on Media to Kogi State Governor, Dr Aishat Umar, Nigerian Centre for Reading, Research and Development, Bayero University, Kano.
Dr Oluwatoyin Eunice Ishola, Provost, College of Community Health, Bingham University Teaching Hospital.
Speaking at the occasion, the first Keynote Speaker, Princess Hajia Nana Hauwa Yussuff, Director General, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, said “the Artificial Intelligence (AI), as depicted by Aldous Huxley, is the quest for the global control of information, predicated on the desire to condition the citizens, from their youthful age, to agree or accept the values, including its emphasis on consumption and social harmony via hypnotic messages delivered during their sleep alongside entertainment.,”
Adding that reportage is conceptualized to adopt reporting in the Brave New World which has pervasively influenced by technology and social conditioning on everyone within a seemingly utopian society. It is capable of prioritizing stability and efficiency that can be achieved via mass production, hypnoaedic conditioning and genetic engineering consequent upon shaping the individual thoughts and behaviour. The expected overall impacts resides on the various aspects of life, including but not limited to love, all forms of happiness and relationships.” Princess Nana said.
The second Keynote Speaker, Oluwatoyin Eunice Ishola, Provost, College of Community Health, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, advised Journalists and editors to get trained to critically assess AI tools and recognize their limitations. She maintained that Media organizations must also advocate for regulatory frameworks that protect press freedom, ensure algorithmic fairness, and support public-interest journalism.
“Ethical guidelines for the use of AI in reporting—such as disclosing when AI is used in content creation—should become standard practice. Furthermore, collaboration between technologists, journalists, and civil society will be essential in designing AI systems that uphold journalistic values and democratic principles.” Oluwatoyin said.
In her Address of welcome, Amb. Dr. Peace Ofeoshi, the Editor-in-Chief of the GreenLand News Magazine, emphasized the numerous challenges Nigerian Journalists face, and these includes: safety threats, financial constraints, political, economic, social, and professional dimensions. Investigative Journalists often face intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrests by government authorities and legal restrictions that hinder their ability to practice free and unbiased Journalism.
She reiterated that Journalists in Nigeria, particularly those covering sensitive issues like corruption, terrorism, or protests, face the risk of violence and intimidation from state actors and non-state actors like terrorist groups and criminal gangs. They have been targeted for abduction and kidnapping, often for ransom or to silence them. “
Responding on behalf of the Awardees, Comrade Engr. Maryann Ada Mbanaso, Chairperson PENGASSA, thanked the management of the GreenLand News Magazine for the honour, adding that the Awardees were well selected based on their track records. She encouraged them to keep doing the good work.
Also, the Chairperson of the occasion, Dr Aishat Umar, Nigerian Centre for Reading, Research and Development, Bayero University, Kano, who highlighted the roles of the media as education, information and entertainment also enjoined the media to continue being objective in their reportage.
