Safer-Media Initiative Trains Journalists in Lagos on AI

Lagos, Nigeria — 18 March 2026

A training workshop on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism was held in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday, marking the start of a series of training programmes to equip Nigerian journalists with essential AI skills.

The event was organised by Safer-Media Initiative (SMI) under its Artificial Intelligence and Media (AIM) Project: Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future. Supported by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), the workshop drew participants keen to explore how AI can transform reporting while upholding ethics and public trust.

Delivering the opening remarks, SMI’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Iorter, stressed the urgency of the training:

“Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant concept—it is here, shaping how stories are discovered, verified, and told. But with these opportunities come responsibilities. That is why this training is not just important—it is urgent.”

Lead trainer Titilope Fadare, founder of GenAI with Titi, conducted practical sessions that gave participants hands-on exposure to AI tools already in use across newsrooms.

Findings from a recent SMI survey revealed that 95% of Nigerian journalists use AI tools at least once a week, with ChatGPT the most popular (85%). Yet only 10% have received formal AI training from their organisations. According to Iorter, this underscores the need for structured programmes to close the knowledge and skills gap.

The survey also found that the most significant fear among journalists is job displacement. Addressing this, Iorter reassured participants: “AI will not replace journalists. But journalists who use AI responsibly will replace those who do not.”

The Lagos workshop is the first in a series of sessions across select Nigerian cities, with Benin City next and Abuja set to host the final in-person training.

By equipping journalists to harness AI responsibly, the AIM project aims to strengthen journalistic integrity, ensuring that technology enhances storytelling rather than undermines it.