SMI Convenes Nigerian Media Leaders and Experts to Chart Responsible AI Future
By SMI | Dec 13, 2025
Abuja, Nigeria – The rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in newsrooms across Nigeria and the need to ensure its responsible use was the central focus of a high-impact virtual discussion on Thursday, December 11, 2025, hosted by Safer-Media Initiative (SMI).
The exclusive stakeholder convening titled "Artificial Intelligence and Media: Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future," marked the official launch of the SMI's AI and Media (AIM) Project activities.
The project, which is conceptualized and implemented by SMI with funding support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) under the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), aims to address newsroom readiness, the safety of journalists, and the need for ethical policy frameworks in the age of AI.
The urgency of the dialogue was underscored in the opening remarks by Peter Iorter, the Executive Director and CEO, Safer-Media Initiative.
Iorter said: "Your presence here shows that you understand the importance of this conversation — and the urgency of engaging with it now," the opening remarks emphasized. He added: The core principles of journalism remain steadfast, yet audience preferences, formats, channels, and revenue streams are shifting rapidly. At the heart of this transformation lies technology — and one of its most disruptive forces is Artificial Intelligence." Iorter highlighted the dual nature of AI, stating, "AI promises efficiency, but it also tests our ethics." He stressed that the virtual meeting was designed to move "beyond armchair analysis" to ground assumptions in the lived experiences of newsroom leaders, journalists, CSOs, and AI experts.
Lead discussants offered incisive perspectives, focusing on the ethical and safety risks associated with unchecked AI integration. Lawrence Onah, National Records Publisher, raised concerns about the applicability of foreign-trained AI models in local contexts, arguing that such systems "often misinterpret Nigerian contexts, threaten originality and erode audience trust."
He asserted: "The danger is not AI itself, but the absence of policies guiding its use."
This sentiment was echoed by Oluseyi Olufemi, Dataphyte Country Director, who placed the emphasis firmly on accountability and trust. "The ethics of AI are as important as the economics of efficiency," Olufemi stated. "Trust remains fundamental to news consumption and audiences must be assured that a human being, not just a robot, is ultimately accountable."
A critical perspective on social equity was introduced by Adaora Onyechere, Executive Director of Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI), who warned that, despite its benefits, AI is "quietly widening gender inequality in newsrooms." Onyechere outlined specific measures necessary to mitigate this risk, calling for "gender-responsive AI integration, including gender audits of newsroom AI tools, more inclusive datasets, diverse leadership, and stronger editorial guidelines for detecting synthetic content." She concluded with a clear call to action for the stakeholders: "AI will not slow down, but we must shape it, not allow it to shape us."
In her closing remarks, SMI’s Programmes Strategic Support Officer, Anita Haruna, confirmed that the actionable insights gathered from the high-impact session will directly inform the scope and content of the AIM Project’s upcoming training workshops and policy frameworks.
Haruna said: "As we conclude this important conversation on AI integration in Nigerian newsrooms, it is evident that journalists are navigating both opportunities and challenges," the closing remark summarized. She added that the insights will be harnessed through the activities of the AIM Project, strengthening newsroom practices and advancing ethical AI integration. On behalf of SMI, she expressed gratitude to the Lead Discussants and acknowledged the "deep gratitude" for the support of its donor partner, UNESCO and the IPDC.
The exclusive stakeholder convening titled "Artificial Intelligence and Media: Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future," marked the official launch of the SMI's AI and Media (AIM) Project activities.
The project, which is conceptualized and implemented by SMI with funding support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) under the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), aims to address newsroom readiness, the safety of journalists, and the need for ethical policy frameworks in the age of AI.
The urgency of the dialogue was underscored in the opening remarks by Peter Iorter, the Executive Director and CEO, Safer-Media Initiative.
Iorter said: "Your presence here shows that you understand the importance of this conversation — and the urgency of engaging with it now," the opening remarks emphasized. He added: The core principles of journalism remain steadfast, yet audience preferences, formats, channels, and revenue streams are shifting rapidly. At the heart of this transformation lies technology — and one of its most disruptive forces is Artificial Intelligence." Iorter highlighted the dual nature of AI, stating, "AI promises efficiency, but it also tests our ethics." He stressed that the virtual meeting was designed to move "beyond armchair analysis" to ground assumptions in the lived experiences of newsroom leaders, journalists, CSOs, and AI experts.
Lead discussants offered incisive perspectives, focusing on the ethical and safety risks associated with unchecked AI integration. Lawrence Onah, National Records Publisher, raised concerns about the applicability of foreign-trained AI models in local contexts, arguing that such systems "often misinterpret Nigerian contexts, threaten originality and erode audience trust."
He asserted: "The danger is not AI itself, but the absence of policies guiding its use."
This sentiment was echoed by Oluseyi Olufemi, Dataphyte Country Director, who placed the emphasis firmly on accountability and trust. "The ethics of AI are as important as the economics of efficiency," Olufemi stated. "Trust remains fundamental to news consumption and audiences must be assured that a human being, not just a robot, is ultimately accountable."
A critical perspective on social equity was introduced by Adaora Onyechere, Executive Director of Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI), who warned that, despite its benefits, AI is "quietly widening gender inequality in newsrooms." Onyechere outlined specific measures necessary to mitigate this risk, calling for "gender-responsive AI integration, including gender audits of newsroom AI tools, more inclusive datasets, diverse leadership, and stronger editorial guidelines for detecting synthetic content." She concluded with a clear call to action for the stakeholders: "AI will not slow down, but we must shape it, not allow it to shape us."
In her closing remarks, SMI’s Programmes Strategic Support Officer, Anita Haruna, confirmed that the actionable insights gathered from the high-impact session will directly inform the scope and content of the AIM Project’s upcoming training workshops and policy frameworks.
Haruna said: "As we conclude this important conversation on AI integration in Nigerian newsrooms, it is evident that journalists are navigating both opportunities and challenges," the closing remark summarized. She added that the insights will be harnessed through the activities of the AIM Project, strengthening newsroom practices and advancing ethical AI integration. On behalf of SMI, she expressed gratitude to the Lead Discussants and acknowledged the "deep gratitude" for the support of its donor partner, UNESCO and the IPDC.
