Skip to main content

Connected Development launches $5m fund to boost AI reporting in Nigerian media

Connected Development (CODE) has launched a $5 million media grant to empower Nigerian journalists in artificial intelligence (AI) reporting.

The fund, announced by CEO Hamzat Lawal during a high-level media roundtable attended by Pulse Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, March 25, seeks to bolster AI-driven storytelling in key sectors such as health, education, climate change, and governance.

"Today, I am pleased to launch a $5 million project. Every year, for the next five years, one million dollars will be allocated to provide journalists with the resources, skills, and tools needed to leverage artificial intelligence in reporting," Lawal declared.

The roundtable brought together esteemed media and governance stakeholders, including Dr. Majeed Dahiru, Lucy James Abagi (CEO of Public and Private Development Centre), and Seun Durojaiye (Founder and Managing Editor, SocialVoices Nigeria), to discuss AI’s transformative potential and its ethical challenges.

AI and the Future of Nigerian Journalism

Lawal emphasised that AI, though often misunderstood, is an extension of machine learning and big data.

"It is what you feed the machine that it gives back to you. The real question is: How do we ensure that citizens are at the heart of AI adoption in Nigeria and across Africa?" he asked.

READ ALSO: Nigeria launches Africa’s 1st AI tool to track carbon emissions

He warned that failure to integrate AI effectively could pose risks to democracy, governance, and public trust.

Speaking on the infrastructure gap, he noted that most AI servers are located in Europe and the United States, raising concerns about data sovereignty.

"Where is all this data stored? If their servers crash today, we wouldn’t even be able to send emails or post on WhatsApp," he said, urging local investment in AI infrastructure.

Ethical Concerns and Misinformation Risks

Dr. Majeed Dahiru provided critical insights into AI’s opportunities and risks. He highlighted ethical concerns, fears of job displacement, risks of misinformation, and AI bias as key challenges.

"AI can create convincing fake news and deepfake videos. In a world where media shapes opinions, this is dangerous. We must ensure that truth prevails," Dahiru warned.

However, he also outlined AI’s transformative potential in media.

"AI tools can generate articles, analyze audience behavior, fact-check content, and automate video editing, making media production more efficient. News agencies like the Associated Press already use AI for financial reports and sports summaries," he noted.

READ ALSO: 5 industries that AI is quietly taking over

Durojaiye, on the other hand, held a different view of news consumption in Nigeria and how trivial content had replaced painstaking investigative reporting.

She stated that these investigative pieces don't enjoy social media reactions and engagements like trivial content.

However, Segun Adeyemi of Pulse Nigeria countered this perception by questioning the business model of media organisations that conduct investigative reports.

Adeyemi suggests that more financial priority should be placed on their social media platforms and backends to achieve their desired aim and reach their target audience.

"There are a billion and one news content out there ready for consumption daily. Competitors won't wait for you, or else you would be late to the party," he said.

Balancing AI and Human Creativity

Dahiru stressed that AI should complement human creativity rather than replace it.

"The key is balance. Use AI for speed and efficiency but ensure humans remain central to storytelling. Media thrives on emotions and authenticity—things AI cannot fully replicate."

He called for ethical AI guidelines, transparency from AI developers, and bias detection tools to ensure fairness in media content.

"AI should enhance, not replace, human effort," he asserted.

A Call to Action

As Nigeria advances toward 2030, Lawal reaffirmed CODE’s commitment to supporting media professionals in AI integration.

"We are deliberate about this. Connected Development would not be here without journalists. Journalism is a calling—just like activism. We will provide financial resources to help you leverage AI in your work."

With AI rapidly reshaping the media landscape, stakeholders at the event agreed that responsibly embracing AI is crucial to safeguarding journalism’s integrity while harnessing its full potential for national development.

ridoola.blogspot.com.ng

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Okpebholo suspends A-G & LG Chair under 3 months over finance dealings

The Edo Government has announced the suspension of Samson Osagie , its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Damian Lawani , chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. Mr Musa Ikhilor , Secretary to the State Government (SSG) announced the suspension in a statement in Benin on Thursday morning. ALSO READ: Kano Govt suspend 2 school principals for alleged absenteeism, negligence Ikhilor said the two-state top officials were suspended over allegations of “grave official and financial interactions”. Okpebholo suspends Edo Attorney-General and LG Service Commission Chairman According to him, the suspension, which takes immediate effect, is pending the conclusion of an investigation into the allegations. The SSG said; It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that Gov. Monday Okpebholo has approved the suspension from office of the Chairman of Edo Local Government Service Commission, Damian Lawani and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Os...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of America's one-term presidents & why they were not re-elected

U.S. President Joe Biden becomes the most recent entrant in a list of president who served for only one term. U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he would not be seeking re-election for a second term in the November 5, 2024 elections. Biden, in a statement said that he would be focused on completing his remaining term, endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harris as his most preferred nominee for the Democratic Party to take on former President Donald Trump. Joe Biden endorses Kamala Harris as Democrats' candidate after withdrawing from race [X:@JoeBiden] Biden now joins a list of former U.S. Presidents that only served for one term. John Adams (1797-1801) The second president of the United States, John Adams was a Founding Father who faced significant challenges during his presidency, including conflicts with political adversaries and foreign nations. His support for the Alien and Sedition Acts, perceived as a violation of civil liberties, contributed to his unpopulari...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tinubu appoints MKO Abiola's son, Jamiu as SSA on Linguistics & Foreign Matters

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jamiu Abiola as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters. The appointee is one of the children of the late Chief Moshood Kolawole Abiola , the winner of the 1993 presidential election annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida . According to a statement by Segun Imohiosen , the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Jamiu's appointment took effect from November 14, 2024. Imohiosen said the appointment aligns with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended. Until his recent deployment, the appointee served as the Special Assistant to the President of Special Duties in the office of the Vice President. Tinubu tasked Jamiu to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new ...
Post a Comment
Read more