AI Can Deepen Analysis Of Nigeria’s Maritime Sector – Centre

Artificial intelligence (AI) can strengthen analytical, investigative and evidence-based reporting on Nigeria’s maritime sector by helping journalists process complex industry data, the chairman of the Maritime Media & Capacity Development Centre (MMCDC), Sesan Onileimo, has said.

Onileimo stated this in Lagos during the opening ceremony of an executive training programme on artificial intelligence for maritime journalists organised by the MMCDC.

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He said the growing adoption of AI was creating opportunities to improve news gathering, processing, verification and dissemination, urging maritime journalists to develop the technical competence required to harness the technology responsibly.

According to him, reporting on Nigeria’s maritime industry requires specialised knowledge and the ability to interpret complex technical, regulatory and economic issues, given the sector’s importance to international trade, port operations, shipping, logistics, job creation and economic development.

He explained that AI could help journalists organise and analyse industry data, including cargo throughput, vessel turnaround time and operational costs, enabling them to produce more analytical and fact-based reports.

“Reporting these activities requires specialised knowledge and the ability to interpret complex technical, regulatory and economic issues. For instance, when reporting on port performance, journalists may need to examine cargo throughput, vessel turnaround time, operational costs and other indicators,” Onileimo said.

He added that AI could help journalists examine such information more efficiently, identify relevant patterns and develop stronger story angles, while providing the context needed to make complex maritime issues understandable to the public.

However, the MMCDC chairman warned that the benefits of AI depended on journalists’ ability to verify information and exercise independent professional judgement.

He cautioned against relying solely on AI-generated content, stressing that official records, dependable documents and independent sources remained essential to credible reporting.

Onileimo identified misinformation, fabricated images, deepfakes, plagiarism, copyright infringement and data privacy breaches as risks journalists must consider when using AI tools.

He said the technology’s ability to produce convincing but inaccurate information made fact-checking and source verification indispensable.

“Journalists must confirm claims, check sources and independently verify images, audio recordings and videos before using them. We must also exercise caution when uploading confidential documents, unpublished investigations or sensitive information about our sources to AI platforms,” he said.

Onileimo stressed that AI should complement rather than replace journalists’ professional responsibilities, warning that technological advancement must not undermine public trust in the media.

“Remember, whatever you put out in the public domain carries your byline. We must ensure that technological advancement strengthens societal trust in our profession. We must not allow AI or unverified attributions or sources to undermine this trust,” he said.

He noted that AI was already supporting several newsroom activities, including research, transcription, translation, data analysis, content development and multimedia production.

According to him, responsible use of these tools could save time, improve newsroom efficiency and allow journalists to concentrate on investigative reporting, critical analysis and public-interest journalism.

“AI can generate information quickly, but that information may contain errors, misleading interpretations or fabricated details. It is therefore expected that journalists must verify AI-generated content before publication. Even as we rely on these tools, we must remain committed to truth, accuracy, fairness and accountability,” Onileimo said.

He also emphasised the need for continuous professional development to equip maritime journalists with the knowledge and skills required to respond to technological changes in the industry.

He called on media organisations, professional bodies and training institutions to collaborate in strengthening journalists’ capacity, while urging corporate organisations to partner with the MMCDC to support training and professional development initiatives.

Speaking at the programme, the facilitator and Chief Executive Officer of Delles Prints, Mr Adebayo Babatunde, said AI was designed to support journalists rather than take over their jobs.

Babatunde explained that the technology could accelerate content production, reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, support investigative work and improve newsroom efficiency.

“AI is only there to enhance and speed up production, not to take jobs away from journalists. AI supports journalists. It can speed up parts of the process; it saves time on repetitive tasks. It helps journalists process large tasks, support investigative work, and make the newsroom workflow more efficient,” he said.