Practice Of Journalism In Nigeria Risks Extinction If ….. – Professor Seyi Akanbi, Acting VC AOUN 

By Joseph Sunday 

The Acting Vice Chancellor, American Open University, Nigeria, AOUN, Professor David Seyi Akanbi has disclosed that journalism in Nigeria risks extinction in the next 10 years unless practitioners reinvent themselves.

This position was coming on the heels of fear of the emerging trends in the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, by non professionals in the country.

The Acting Vice Chancellor made this known during a 2 day training of Journalists in Ibadan drawn from different media houses held at the University Campus, New Bodija, Ibadan.

The training which was organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council in collaboration with the University has as its theme: “Empowering Journalists with Artificial Intelligence for Ethical Innovative and Future Ready Journalism”.

Prof Akanbi described AI as a tool that has gained traction in followership through influencers who deployed it for their ulterior motives and money making.

He noted that it is gradually eroding the authority of the conventional media due to easy access to AI tools by the influencers.

“People now prefer to pay influencers than conventional media due to increase in their followers, media information and patronage become dwindling due to the misuse of social media”, Prof Akanbi added.

He regretted that the social media influencers are now breaking unverified news with the unsuspecting public taking them as authentic information.

The Acting Vice Chancellor listed as a way out of the threats on journalism by the Social media users: an intersection of collaboration between the Law and professionals to block fake news, embracing influential journalism to build followers.

Justifying that it is going to be the example of what journalism will become in the future.

Prof Akanbi said every journalist must turn to influential journalism and using the AI to generate followers.

The Commissioner of Information, Oyo State, Prince Dotun Oyelade lauded the state NUJ for investing in the progress of its members through modern technology.

He disclosed that his Ministry will implant as a creed in a strategic place at its Secretariat ‘AI will not replace Journalists but will replace Journalists that refuse to learn” as rightly contained in the NUJ Chairman’s speech.

While declaring the Training open, the Commissioner enjoined participants to use it to their advantages.

The NUJ Chairman, Mr Akeem Abas, in his speech, said the programme was organised to fulfill his campaign promises, noting that he had declared training of its members as immediate priority if elected into office.

He said AI has tools that can be deployed to increase the knowledge base of media practitioners and emphasised its advantages as problem solving and enablers.

Credit: Bola Ogunlayi