As part of the global commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2025, the Nigerian government has called on public information officers to uphold truth and professionalism amid the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on media and communication.
This charge was made during a two-day workshop on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), jointly organized by the Federal Information Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the UNESCO Office in Nigeria. Held at the Bolingo Hotel Art Gallery in Abuja, the event focused on the theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.”
Delivering the keynote on behalf of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the ministry’s Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Dr Suleiman Haruna, emphasized the role of government communicators in preserving public trust.
“We are navigating an era where Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how information is gathered, validated, and consumed,” Haruna stated. “It is vital that public communicators ensure its use reinforces, rather than erodes, trust and accountability in governance.”
UNESCO’s Head of Office and Representative in Abuja, Mr Albert Mendy, highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to press freedom and ethical technology use. He relayed a goodwill message from the UNESCO Director-General, referencing a 2023 study that showed over half of the global population now relies primarily on digital platforms for news consumption.
“This year’s theme challenges us to safeguard the integrity of information in a digital age where algorithms can easily manipulate truth,” Mendy said. He further underscored the importance of global ethical frameworks, such as the Windhoek+30 Declaration and UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, and Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, both praised the initiative, urging greater investment in digital literacy for journalists and public communicators.
UNESCO’s Country Representative added an international perspective, stressing the need for global cooperation in AI governance to protect freedom of expression and journalistic integrity.
Chairman of the Federal Information Chapel, Comrade Raphael Towoju, described the workshop as essential, noting that public communicators sit at the intersection of governance, media, and technology.
“This training is not just about adapting to technological revolution, but about preserving human agency in journalism,” Towoju said.
The event also featured the official launch of Polity Today, a new publication by the Federal Information Chapel aimed at improving the reach and quality of government communication.
The workshop concluded on Friday, May 23, with sessions led by media experts and digital literacy trainers. Participants expressed gratitude to UNESCO and the NUJ Federal Information Chapel, calling for regular capacity-building programmes to equip Nigeria’s communicators for the evolving digital information era.