The Oyo state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), today empowered no fewer than 100 of its members with Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, revolving around Gemini for news writing and editing, content creation, image creation, data analysis, fact-checking and audience engagement.
The training which is the second of the series was facilitated by technology experts from Google to equip media professionals with modern digital skills, boost newsroom productivity as well as reshaping the media landscape.
The beneficiaries spanning print and broadcast media participated in the career redefining exercise with plans to extend the gesture to all other journalists across the state.
In his speech, the state chairman of the Union, Comrade Akeem Abas emphasized the importance of adapting to AI, saying the training isn’t just about technology but empowering journalists and enhancing competency to improve studio and field productivity.
Abass demystified the evolvement of AI as a tool that can only reshape but not replace, boost the confidence of journalists, adding that it will only affect and shove aside journalists who are reluctant to learn.
The Oyo state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade in his remarks extolled the leadership of NUJ for their coordination and doggedness in organizing such a timely and impactful program, noting that journalism remains a vital pillar of democracy.
Oyelade who lamented varieties of challenges that have been drawing journalists and journalism aback, stressed that the body has taken a bolder step to eradicate one of the major challenges truncating journalists and journalism which is lack of access to credible information gathering.
He further stated that the training will undoubtedly, uphold the ethics of the profession and unlock a pathway to greatness.
In a chat with the journalists, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo state Governor, Pastor Sulaiman Olanrewaju, Chairman, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Mrs Dotun Olaitan, veteran journalist, Mrs. Bose Oyewole all expressed their satisfaction over the training exercise, describing it as a “golden opportunity” that comes in the form of a free souvenir.
They further described the training as a veritable tool that is meant to shape the present while making a key provision for the future, projecting that journalism in the next five years will not only change for better but will take another progressive dimension that will catapult the profession to greater heights.
The program which was held at Dominion hall, Iyaganku, Ibadan was part of the union’s effort to empower journalist, reposition journalism while influencing the studio and field exploits across the state.
