Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Mbah has urged journalists to leverage Artificial Intelligence to enhance reporting and strengthen their role as watchdogs of public accountability.
Speaking at the State House Press Corps Two-Day Capacity Building Retreat and Workshop, themed “Artificial Intelligence Utilization for Effective Journalism,” the governor emphasised the importance of truth, accountability, and innovation in the media’s pursuit of good governance
He highlighted Enugu’s media legacy as vital to democracy, urging media professionals to remain committed to accountability and institutional strength.
“This city has historically been a stomping ground for the media, right from the pre-Independence era. So, there couldn’t be a more appropriate location for this media workshop.
“As a bastion of democracy, it is essential that journalists never lose sight of their sacred role of holding leaders to account, and strengthening our institutions – lest they become simply beholden to power.
“This ensures that it serves as society’s guardrails in our quest to build a cohesive and developed society.
“The media is the conscience of the nation. But in an age where truth is so brazenly assailed by deliberate falsehood, how can the media successfully discharge its roles?
“This question is even more compelling in this era, where the tools of Artificial Intelligence can be so easily deployed for untoward ends.
“There’s no doubt that the birth of social media has had a profound impact on social consciousness and the push for good governance,” he stated.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by misinformation and the misuse of AI but urged journalists to view AI as a tool for smarter and more innovative journalism.
“Artificial Intelligence is not the next frontier; it is actually with us now and impacting our lives in ways we may not immediately discern.
“We miss the point if we simply view Artificial Intelligence through the lens of conspiracy theories and fear: that it will lead to job losses, overwhelm humanity, etc.
“We should rather see Artificial Intelligence as a tool that can make us work smarter.
Even without realizing it, we are using AI tools in our everyday life, from direction apps like Google and Apple Maps to tasks such as internet searches.
So, there’s no playing the ostrich as far as Al is concerned; its influence looms large just as the impact of the steam engine had been during the Industrial Revolution.
Smart School
Governor Mbah further highlighted the Enugu State government’s Smart Schools project, delivering experiential education and problem-solving skills to children across all 260 wards, advancing a knowledge-based future.
He mentioned the upgrades to the state’s transport system for orderly, comfortable commuting and reaffirmed that Enugu’s governance is anchored in trust, transparency, and accountability, values the media must uphold to promote civic trust and progress.
“When our administration assumed office, we had to deal with the inconvenient truth that our students were being left behind in our fast-evolving, knowledge-driven world.
“The transformation has been mind-blowing. We have seen children who lacked basic literacy and numeracy knowledge transformed into confident pupils, able to harness technology to solve everyday challenges.
“Our roads and transport infrastructure have also experienced a total revamp.
“To a large degree, we have grown accustomed as Nigerians to bus parks that are characterized by utter chaos.” Gov Mbah added.
He urged journalists to reaffirm their editorial courage and originality, cautioning against excessive reliance on AI, such that may hinder creativity.
The Governor expressed confidence that the workshop would equip Stare House reporters to navigate the evolving media landscape with integrity and innovation.
Chairman of the State House Press Corps (SHPC), Dr. Emmanuel Anule, in his opening remarks, called on journalists to continuously upgrade their skills to meet the demands of modern reporting.
He lauded the governor’s transformative initiatives across education, infrastructure, security, and economic development, highlighting Enugu’s rapid emergence as a bustling construction hub.
“The opportunity of this workshop facilitated by Your Excellency provides us a genuine opportunity to see things first hand and be part of history as you keep turning Enugu into a bustling construction hub, hoping to transform the state and ultimately improve lives.”
Dr. Anule expressed deep gratitude to Governor Mbah for his visionary leadership and for hosting the workshop in the historic ‘Coal City State.
Governor Mbah was represented by Professor Sam Ugwu, Commissioner of Environment and Climate for Enugu State.