By Gabriel Agbeja
The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, has called on the agency’s editorial staff members to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for enhanced productivity.
He made the call during his last quarterly meeting with the agency’s employees on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ali, who described AI tools as game-changers, pointed out that AI could boost productivity by automating tasks, saving time and increasing accuracy by minimising human errors.
According to him, AI enhances decision-making by analysing vast data quickly; fosters innovation by enabling new products and services.
“We must leverage AI tools, though we must monitor them as well. Kindly update knowledge on AI. We need to integrate AI tools in our editorial works.
“It is a duty of every editorial staff to protect work tools like computers to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, ” he said.
Ali promised to embark on staff training on the usage of AI tools in the newsroom in the first quarter of 2026.
He said that the agency would also hold its second annual lecture in the first quarter of 2026, which could not hold in 2025 due to the paucity of funds.
He disclosed that President John Mahama of Ghana and Dr Sidi Tah, the President of the African Development Bank, would be among the special guests of honour to attend the second annual lecture.
Ali added that the agency would also embark on the recruitment of new employees into all departments in 2026, which would be purely based on merit.
“The recruitment will be on merit. The qualified and right people will be employed. Ability to do the job can only sustain the employees.
“We can only employ those who are competent and fit for the jobs.
“For our casual staff, their own would be automatic as they have already been well trained by the permanent staff,” he said.
Ali, who said more nurses would be needed, however stated that investment on health would be through sporting activities.
On achievements in 2025, Ali said the NAN studio had been upgraded to world standard by acquiring sophisticated equipment that could compete with any other in the world.
Ali said that the positions for directorate cadre in the editorial department had been increased, while many zonal offices had been renovated.
He said that the management of the agency was deepening efforts to improve conditions of service and the welfare of its employees.
The NAN boss thanked all the staff members for their cooperation in order to achieve the feats.
Ali urged the editorial staff members to further improve themselves to become “super reporters,” who could handle the multimedia roles of video, text, audio, and photo altogether. (NAN)
Edited by Mark Longyen
