By Folasade Akpan/Abigael Joshua
The Safer Media Initiative (SMI) says a significant skills gap exists in Nigerian newsrooms, with only 10 per cent of journalists formally trained on Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in spite of widespread usage.
The Executive Director of SMI, Peter Iorter, disclosed this in Abuja at a training for journalists themed AI Tools for Journalists: Effective, Responsible and Safe Use.”
The training forms part of SMI’s Artificial Intelligence and Media (AIM) Project, titled “Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future.
Iorter said findings from a recent survey showed that 95 per cent of journalists already use AI tools regularly, but lack the training required for responsible and ethical application.
He described the development as risky, warning that unregulated use of AI could undermine journalistic ethics and professional standards if not addressed through structured training and newsroom policies.
“AI is rapidly transforming journalism globally, and Nigerian journalists must not be left behind, but must also not abandon ethical principles guiding the profession,” he said.
Iorter said the training was designed to bridge the knowledge gap and equip journalists with skills to use AI tools efficiently while maintaining accuracy, credibility and safety.
“We need to train people to acquire those skills so that our journalists will be at the same speed as their counterparts in other parts of the world,” he said.
Iorter added that the initiative was supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) under its International Programme for the Development of Communication.
According to him, the project also aims to develop a framework to guide newsrooms on AI usage, noting that many media organisations currently lack clear policies on the technology.
“AI presents opportunities for efficiency but also poses ethical challenges, making it imperative to establish guidelines that will prevent misuse and safeguard journalism integrity,” he said.
He added that similar trainings had earlier been conducted in Lagos and Benin.
Also speaking, the training facilitator and Founder of Generative AI Journalism, Ms Titilope Oparinde, said AI should be viewed as a productivity tool that supports, rather than replaces journalists.
“AI will not replace journalists who know how to use it; it will replace those who refuse to learn how to use it,” she said, urging media professionals to embrace continuous learning.
Oparinde said AI tools could assist with transcription, translation, summarisation and content repurposing but could not replace editorial judgement, contextual understanding or ethical decision-making.
In his remarks, the Country Director of Dataphyte, Mr Oluseyi Olufemi, emphasised the need for journalists to verify primary data when using AI-generated content.
Olufemi urged journalists to remain gatekeepers of truth by ensuring that all AI-assisted outputs were thoroughly fact-checked before publication.
He also highlighted the importance of using AI to combat misinformation while addressing digital safety concerns, including gender-sensitive risks associated with emerging technologies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is part of efforts to strengthen responsible AI use and digital safety across Nigerian newsrooms. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
