IBADAN – The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, says Artificial Intelligence skill can be used to tackle the challenges facing modern journalism practitioners.
Oyelade, who said this on Tuesday at the one-day Google training in Ibadan, commended the state executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State Council, for focusing on AI training for its members.
The commissioner underscored the importance of training for journalists and charging the participants to maximise the opportunity given.
According to him AI can only endanger the jobs of journalists who refuse to learn.
He said the initiative would help them stay relevant, sharpen their skills, and improve professional practice.
“The challenges of information gathering are growing by the day, and we cannot afford to be left behind,” he said.
Earlier, the chairman of the Oyo State Council of NUJ, Mr Akeem Abas, expressed appreciation to the dignitaries and journalists who participated in the AI training, the second in the series.
Abas said the initiative, organised in partnership with Google Africa, was designed to equip journalists with digital skills and strengthen their capacity for ethical and impactful reporting.
He emphasised that journalists who embraced AI stood to gain professionally and called for support in establishing a fact-checking platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The chairman expressed gratitude to Google Africa for the collaboration, reaffirming the union’s strong commitment to professional excellence. (NAN)
