By Education Desk | The Merit
Lagos, Nigeria — May 5, 2025 — The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, MFR, FNIPR, has urged journalists across Africa to actively engage in shaping the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in democratic governance.
Delivering the keynote address at the 73rd Convocation Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) on Monday, Adeniyi emphasized the need for media professionals to become interpreters, investigators, and educators in the AI age.
The lecture, themed “Artificial Intelligence in Public Governance,” was held at the Sir Kesington Adebutu Media Resource Centre in Lagos and presided over by Mr. Ray Ekpu, Vice Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council and a renowned veteran journalist. Among attendees were the institute’s Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Deputy Provost Dr. Adeboye Ola, faculty members, students, and a wide array of media professionals and public policy stakeholders.
“AI is no longer a futuristic idea—it is a present reality that is transforming how governments operate, how decisions are made, and how societies function,” Adeniyi said. “It is enhancing government operations and fundamentally reshaping the architecture of public governance, creating both opportunities and challenges that demand new frameworks of journalistic coverage and accountability.”
He encouraged journalism graduates to take on new roles as interpreters of algorithmic systems, investigators of digital policy, and public educators capable of decoding complex technologies for broader audiences.
Citing examples from the United Kingdom’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation and emerging AI governance models in Africa, Adeniyi noted that countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are increasingly integrating AI into sectors such as fintech, e-health, and smart agriculture.
He highlighted the African Union’s ongoing efforts to develop a continental AI strategy that respects regional diversity and cultural values.
However, Adeniyi also sounded a note of caution: “The rise of AI brings significant ethical questions—algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, threats to privacy, and the growing digital divide in developing nations must be addressed.”
He challenged journalists to ask critical questions:
Who benefits or suffers from AI decisions? Who designs these systems? What mechanisms exist for accountability?
“The quality of our democracy in an AI-driven future will depend significantly on how well journalists fulfill their watchdog role,” he asserted, adding that investigative reporting in this context would require a new blend of technical fluency, legal insight, and ethical grounding.
In his remarks, Mr. Ray Ekpu commended the theme and called for greater journalistic engagement in safeguarding public interest in the digital age.
The event reaffirmed NIJ’s commitment to fostering innovation, critical thinking, and leadership in journalism education. Speakers advocated for collaborative action among governments, academic institutions, media organizations, and civil society to ensure the responsible governance of AI in Africa and beyond.
Photo Credit: Timothy Adegbola
