The climax of the conference was the Launch of Tori AI, Citizens College, Connected Newsrooms, Kohort, and Falasa.
By TheInvestigator
Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts, academics, and media professionals converged in Lagos on Wednesday for a one-day conference that explored Nigeria’s readiness for AI adoption and the nation’s emerging technology ecosystem.
The conference, organised by the New Thoughts Media Support Foundation (NTMSF), formerly Civic Media Lab, opened with a welcome address by its Director, Mr Seun Akinfolarin, who emphasised the growing relevance of AI to innovation and national development.
Underscoring the importance of AI to newsrooms, he said, “The newsrooms of the future may not have walls; this is an opportunity for us.”
In his keynote address on “AI Adoption in Nigeria,” Dr Bapo Olorunyomi, publisher and editor-in-chief of Premium Times and CEO of Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), gave a broad overview of the country’s current technological landscape and urged stakeholders to embrace AI as a tool for national transformation.
Represented by Mr Monsur Hussain, he maintained that “AI is transforming industries across the world.” He added that “AI is changing the world and journalism cannot be left out.”
The first panel session, moderated by Habib Oladapo, examined “AI Adoption in Nigeria: Perspectives.” The panellists, Dr Kayode Olayemi, Dr Aderonke Lawal, and Dr Jibril Abdullahi, shared insights on the opportunities and challenges in implementing AI across education, governance, and the private sector.
A subsequent panel on “The AI Ecosystem in Nigeria: The Knowledge Gap and Raising the Next Generation of Experts,” moderated by Dr Aderonke Lawal, featured Professor Suleiman Yar’Adua, Professor Musa Aibinu and Dr Olusola Ayoola. The discussants called for deliberate efforts in research, training, and mentorship to bridge the knowledge divide in the field of artificial intelligence.
After lunch, the conference turned to media innovation with a panel on “AI Adoption: Lessons from the Newsrooms.” Moderated by Monsuroh Abdulsemiu, the session featured Mr Tajudeen Sulaiman, Mr Ajibola Hamzart, and Mr Mojeed Alabi, who shared newsroom experiences in integrating AI tools into journalism workflows.
The climax of the conference was the Launch of Tori AI, Citizens College, Connected Newsrooms, Kohort, and Falasa.
The final session, led by Lanre Ogunkunle, addressed “Infrastructural Impediments and Opportunities around AI and Tech Adoption for Media Sustainability and Democracy in Nigeria.” Ogunkunle highlighted structural and connectivity barriers that hinder AI development, while also outlining new possibilities for media innovation.
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