Onaiyekan, Shettima Urge Editors To Strengthen Defences Against AI Disinformation
VICE President Kashim Shettima and Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, have urged Nigerian editors to strengthen professional journalism and verification systems as artificial intelligence creates new challenges for the credibility of information ahead of future elections.
The two leaders spoke at the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu, where the theme was “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.”
The conference’s sub-theme focused on detecting and debunking AI-generated disinformation before, during and after elections.
Shettima, in his goodwill message to the conference, said artificial intelligence had made it possible to manufacture convincing falsehoods at unprecedented speed.
He said the development had made professional journalism more important because editors remained crucial gatekeepers between information and manipulation.
The Vice President said citizens needed access to credible information to make meaningful choices at the ballot box.
He also described the media as the fourth estate because of its role in interrogating power, informing citizens, shaping public debate and preserving institutional memory.
Onaiyekan, in his keynote address, said the emergence of artificial intelligence had introduced new dangers into the communication environment.
He noted that modern technology could produce convincing synthetic voices, images and other forms of fabricated content capable of misleading citizens.
The Cardinal warned that the spread of false information could damage the ability of citizens to distinguish truth from fabrication.
He urged journalists to combine professional freedom with responsibility and professionalism in using the growing range of media technologies.
Onaiyekan said the media must remain committed to informing and educating citizens about the true state of the nation.
He stressed the importance of professional autonomy and urged journalists to resist pressures from those who fund or influence media organisations.
The Cardinal said the emergence of social media and artificial intelligence had significantly expanded the media environment, creating both opportunities and challenges that require greater knowledge and skill.
Shettima said the media’s role becomes even more consequential as Nigeria approaches another election cycle.
He urged editors to continue scrutinising government while ensuring that public debate remained informed by credible information.
Onaiyekan similarly called for the media to use its relatively broad freedom responsibly and professionally to uphold and strengthen Nigerian democracy.
He said the ultimate objective should be a democratic system in which leaders are freely chosen by citizens and governance serves the common good.
The conference brought together editors and other stakeholders to deliberate on the relationship between the ballot, media responsibility, democracy and emerging challenges in the information environment.
