AI Will Only Replace Journalists Who Refused To Upskill – NUJ Chair

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Akeem Abbas, has said that artificial intelligence (AI) will only replace journalists who failed to update their digital skills.

Abbas made the assertion on Wednesday in Ibadan at a two-day AI training organised by the NUJ Oyo State Council in collaboration with the American Open University, Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was themed “Empowering Journalists with Artificial Intelligence for Ethical, Innovative and Future-ready Journalism.”

According to Abbas, journalists who were digitally empowered are not a threat to national development but strategic partners in nation-building.

He said AI competence would enable journalists to diversify their professional relevance by working as media consultants, offering data analysis, content strategy and communication advisory services to governments, institutions and the private sector.

Abbas added that journalists could also establish media and technology startups, including fact-checking platforms, local data hubs, investigative journalism laboratories, digital storytelling studios and AI-assisted news platforms designed for niche audiences.

He further noted that journalists could function as policy advisers and public communication experts, supporting government agencies, legislators and development institutions with research-based insights, public engagement strategies and evidence-driven narratives.

Describing the initiative as capacity building rather than charity, Abbas said the programme aligns with Nigeria’s Digital Economy Agenda, which prioritises digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development.

“As Nigeria moves towards a knowledge-based economy, journalists must not be excluded from this transformation,” he said.

Abas recalled that the NUJ leadership had promised during its electioneering campaign to pursue policy-driven unionism by equipping members with skills that guarantee relevance, sustainability and dignity in a rapidly changing economy.

“This training of 120 journalists is a direct fulfilment of that promise. AI will not replace journalists; it will only replace journalists who refuse to learn,” he said.

He urged participants to move beyond routine reporting to analytical and solution-oriented journalism, calling on them to interrogate data, interpret policies and enlighten citizens in ways that strengthen democracy and accountability.

“To policymakers and stakeholders present, this initiative sends a strong message: investing in journalists is investing in transparency, stability and informed governance.

“A technologically competent press is not a luxury; it is a national necessity.

“Journalism has survived every technological disruption because it adapts without surrendering its soul. Artificial intelligence must amplify human judgment, not replace it; it must serve democracy, not undermine it,” Abas added.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the emergence of AI as a positive development, noting, however, that like other global innovations, it comes with potential risks if misused.

Oyelade said studies have shown that AI has become an integral part of journalism, both in the present and in the future.

He attributed the success of the Seyi Makinde-led administration to the strategic deployment of science and data in governance.

According to him, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has digitised land transactions, blocking financial leakages, reducing fraud to the barest minimum and significantly boosting the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR).

“The state recorded a phenomenal N103 billion IGR in 2025 alone. This figure exceeds the total IGR generated by the past two administrations combined,” Oyelade said.

He urged journalists to maximise the knowledge gained from the training for both personal development and organisational growth, while commending the newly elected Oyo NUJ executives for organising the programme within two months of assuming office.

Also speaking, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the American Open University, Nigeria, Dr Seyi Akanbi, described AI as a solution when placed in responsible hands.

Akanbi identified misinformation, disinformation and propaganda as major threats to journalism and urged journalists to deploy AI tools to promote content integrity, social responsibility, professional excellence, innovation and adaptability.

He also advised journalists to partner with technology organisations such as Google to establish fact-checking platforms that enhance accuracy and credibility in the media space.

NAN