General News
The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Challenges of Modern Newsrooms: Implications for Nigerian Journalists
By Felix Elele
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is one of the outcomes of the digital disruptions of this era. The disruptive effects of sundry technological innovations such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and blockchain have changed all facets of human endeavour and the creative industry is not an exception.
The impact of these disruptive technologies on the creative industry is an area of growing interest to media practitioners. One segment of the creative economy that has integrated AI into its creation process is journalism. It serves as a model of how technology could be applied to various forms of creative expression in the future.
It is no more news that the advent of the internet has revolutionised the way every facet of life operates globally including the practice of journalism.
Accordingly, media organisations are strategizing on how to navigate the threats posed by the emergence of AI and reposition themselves to take advantage of the opportunities. It is inherent that with the help of AI programs, the art of storytelling is becoming more and more scientific.
Hadi Rashedi, Ku Leaven and Hossen Mosalapoor in their paper titled “Exploring the future of modern journalism with artificial intelligence”, stated that AI software developers are using their extensive knowledge of linguistics and natural language to explore narrative and turn data analytics insights from data silos into digestible narratives in seconds.
This has ushered a new era and paradigm shift in journalism practice known as Robotic Journalism. They further posited that Robotic Journalism is based on two pillars: computer software that automatically extracts new knowledge from huge data silos and algorithms that automatically convert this knowledge and insights into readable stories without human intervention.
In this new era, commercial firms have AI algorithms that write thousands of journalistic reports without humans. For obvious economic and business strategy reasons, the adoption of robot journalism is rapidly growing and will be a disruptor in the journalism practice, as it is known today.
Recent developments have shown that efficient new robot journalists will challenge traditional journalists. Aside from significant personnel cost reductions, these robot journalists are factual, are never fatigued, and are free of bias if programmed objectively.
Christoph Trattner and his team in an article titled “Responsible media technology and AI: challenges and research directions” published in 2021 have argued that new competition in the media industry is an undeniable fact and an inevitable effect of the disruptive effects of digitalisation and new economic models.
They argue that traditional media outlets and their long-standing editorial practices are losing ground to up-and-coming firms that have successfully filled a niche in the media market by anticipating and targeting specific consumer demands.
For instance, fnn.no has become Norway’s primary classified ads platform, a sector previously dominated by traditional media; Twitter has become a major debate platform, bypassing traditional media; Facebook appears to provide far more insight into people’s lives than the personals sections of newspapers ever did; and Netflix, HBO, Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube challenge the commercial and public broadcasters’ positions.
Facebook aggregates material and services more efficiently than the media due to its use of user-curated content and predictive content personalization. These enormous platforms now distribute content, while traditional media companies have evolved into content providers for these platforms, similar to anyone with a smartphone.
The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, Forbes, and ProPublica have initiated the automation of news content. Though the technology is still in its infancy on the market, automated journalism has made its way into newsrooms and is likely to remain.
The use of AI in journalism has provided opportunities to automate reporting and has helped to rapidly expand coverage; the Associated Press was able to expand the number of companies it reported. It also provides faster insights and the ability to spontaneously provide real-time data for the outlines of a story in seconds, unlike human reporters. In addition, it can reduce the human element in the content-creation process.
In his research on the subject, “Guide to Automated Journalism”, Andreas Graefe stated that the increasing availability of structured data and news organizations’ desire to both reduce costs and increase the quantity of news are some of the primary drivers of automated journalism.
This is because algorithms can generate news more quickly, on a larger scale, and potentially with fewer errors than human journalists. It can use the same data to tell stories in multiple languages and from various perspectives, thus tailoring them to the preferences of each individual reader.
Equally, they have the capacity to generate news on demand by generating stories in response to users’ data-related queries. On the other hand, he argued that the disadvantage of algorithms is that they rely on data and assumptions, both of which are susceptible to bias and error.
As a result, algorithms may generate unanticipated, unintended, and erroneous results. They are unable to pose questions, explain novel phenomena, or establish causality, limiting their capacity to observe society and perform journalistic duties such as orientation and opinion formation.
In looking at the pros and cons, some journalists may see the new robot journalists as a serious threat to their career and means of livelihood, while some forward-thinking journalists will view this potential threat to journalism as a tool for more efficient delivery.
For proactive practitioners, the robot journalists will free them from engaging in sometimes dangerous and costly investigations. The bot will also provide them with an automated draft of a story, which they will then revise and enhance with their in-depth analysis, perspectives, and storytelling skills.
With advancements in micro-data technology, it will be challenging for human journalists to compete in this ecosystem of automatic data collection and writing without advancing their skill set. In the nearest future, there is the possibility that career professions in the media will experience a paradigm shift.
It is envisaged that Data managers and AI software engineers may become key players in the journalism profession as employees of media organizations and potential newsroom leaders in the emerging media practice.
Notwithstanding the above, human journalists still have important roles and competitive advantages over robot journalists – but they must fully understand those limitations and retool their skills, competencies and abilities to reposition their mode of operation to take advantage of the opportunities.
Andreas Graefe has argued that Journalists whose work consists of covering mundane themes may be displaced by automated journalism, but the advent of news-generating algorithms may also lead to the creation of new employment opportunities. For instance, a robot journalist cannot be a watchdog over democracy and human rights.
Consequently, there is a likelihood of collaboration and integration of human and automated journalism to form a man-machine alliance. It is in the best interest of journalists to hone their skills and develop new ones in areas such as in-depth analysis, interviewing, and investigative reporting, which algorithms cannot execute. It is therefore pertinent that human journalists should understand and embrace the new rules of the game.
Going forward, media organisations and practitioners in developing countries and particularly in Nigeria must begin to change their perspective and espouse these new realities if they must remain relevant in the emerging media space.
Otherwise, the mega and evolving media practice propelled by AI will lead to the extinction of some media practitioners and operators in line with Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. The time to act is now as AI has the capacity to transform the digital space in ways that seem unimaginable.
Regarding Nigeria journalism practice in the age of robot journalism, Desmond Onyemechi Okocha and Roxie Ojoma Ola-Akuma stated in their study “Investigating Robot Journalism, National Security and the Future of Military-Media Relations in Nigeria” that media practitioners are still unfamiliar with the concept of robot journalism technology.
They urged media organizations and journalists to acquire the skills necessary to implement and adapt to global strategies for gathering, packaging, and disseminating news and other pertinent information to the public.
In addition, journalists must make editorial and ethical decisions, which could pave the way for the adoption of automated journalism, as robots lack emotions and can only implement pre-programmed ethics. In addition, media organizations should be adaptable and train their employees in online journalism, while the government should facilitate the continuous flow of information. On the other hand, Nigerian training institutions should include robot journalism and military news coverage in their curriculum.
Felix Elele wrote from Abuja, Nigeria.
The court of appeal in Lagos has asked the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to revoke the certificate of registration of “KPMG Professional Services”.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, the appellant court granted the reliefs sought by KPMG Nigeria against CAC and KPMG Professional Services.
The judgment was read by Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero, the judge.
The two other judges are Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo and A.M. Talba.
In 2002, KPMG Professional Services was registered as a company with CAC despite the existence of KPMG Nigeria, comprising its audit, tax, and consulting arms.
The KPMG Nigeria has long been registered in Nigeria before 2002.
KPMG Audit was registered in 1969, KPMG Tax Consultants in 1990, and KPMG Consulting in 1969.
Displeased with the registration of KPMG Professional Services, KPMG Nigeria approached the federal high court.
The consulting firm had argued that the name “KPMG Professional Services” was deceptively similar to its long-established identity.
In 2005, the lower court dismissed KPMG Nigeria’s case, citing an alleged merger between KPMG Nigeria and Akintola Williams Deloitte as reason the company could no longer assert rights to the name.
The lower upheld the second respondent’s (KPMG Professional Services) counterclaim and ordered that KPMG Nigeria’s name be struck off the CAC register.
The lower court had premised its decision on newspaper articles stating that KPMG Nigeria reportedly merged with Akintola Williams Deloitte.
Delivering the judgment, Bayero ruled that the lower court erred by relying on newspaper articles to ascertain that KPMG Nigeria allegedly merged with another company.
The judge said the documents showing the alleged merger were not presented before the lower court, and the form of the alleged merger could not have been known.
“In any event, the only branch of KPMG, if any, that entered into a merger with Akintola Williams as stated in the newspaper articles 18, is KPMG Audit,” the judge ruled.
“The other spheres were totally unaffected. It would therefore be wrong to state that the merger (which has not been shown to this Court) of KPMG Audit with Akintola Williams means all the other areas of business, including KPMG Consulting and KPMG Tax Consultants, also ceased to exist.
“Even if the Appellants (KPMG Nigeria) had ceased to do business as the Court seemed to have held, the 2nd Respondents (KPMG Professional Services) should not have been carrying on business until the Appellant’s certificate of registration is withdrawn or set aside.
“They cannot use the name until the Appellant’s certification of registration is withdrawn or set aside. They cannot use the name until the name is removed from the 1st Respondent’s (CAC) Register of Names.
“The 1st Respondents can only assign the name to the 2nd Respondents after first taking it away from the Appellants.”
The court ruled that CAC erred by registering KPMG Professional Services despite the existence of a business name, which is already registered.
The judge reversed the earlier ruling of the lower court and reaffirmed the primacy of statutory protection for existing business names under Nigerian corporate law.
Air Peace has announced the launch of direct flights from Abuja to London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, with operations scheduled to begin on October 26, 2025.
The airline said in a statement on Sunday that round-trip fares for the Abuja–London service will start from N1m, making it the first Nigerian carrier to offer direct connections from the capital to both of London’s major international airports. This was contained in a press release issued on Sunday by the airline’s spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey.
“Direct international flight services from Abuja to both London Heathrow and London Gatwick Airports, effective October 26, 2025.
“Air Peace becomes the first Nigerian carrier to offer direct services from Abuja to both of London’s major international airports, further solidifying its role as a leader in regional and intercontinental aviation.
“Travellers originating from any of Air Peace’s domestic destinations across Nigeria can now book through fares via Abuja to either Heathrow or Gatwick using a single ticket, eliminating the need for multiple bookings or baggage re-checks,” the statement read.
Similarly, the new route opens convenient access for inbound passengers from the UK to cities across Nigeria.
“Travellers from London can access multiple destinations across Nigeria using a single Air Peace ticket through Abuja every morning. These destinations are Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Warri, Owerri, Kano, Yola, Gombe and Asaba, for now. Other destinations will be added later,” Osifo-Whiskey stated.
Air Peace is also offering what it describes as unprecedented value in pricing and service.
Osifo-Whiskey said, “It provides a distinct competitive advantage, enabling passengers to travel between Nigeria and the United Kingdom with greater ease, efficiency, and value, due to the possibility of choosing multiple cities entry and exit points.
“Has the cheapest fares ever, starting from only 1 Million Naira round trip. Huge baggage allowance.”
The Abuja–London launch comes months after the airline began Lagos–London Heathrow flights, which started earlier in 2024.
General News
Prateek Suri CEO Maser Meets Zambia’s Education Minister to Propel Student Housing and Education Projects
Prateek Suri, CEO of MASER and recognized as the richest Indian entrepreneur in Africa, was welcomed this week by Zambia’s Education Minister, Hon. Douglas Munsaka Syakalima, for a high-level meeting in Lusaka that focused on student housing and broader education infrastructure initiatives.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Education’s offices, opened with warm greetings and a presentation by Mr Suri detailing Maser’s plans to support Zambia’s rapidly scaling education sector. Suri, who led Maser to become Africa’s seventh unicorn, emphasized the company’s commitment to infrastructure that benefits students, educators, and communities across the continent.
Minister Syakalima underscored the urgency of addressing Zambia’s student accommodation gap, citing the country’s expanding net enrollment and the need for safe, affordable housing for tertiary students. Under his leadership, the Government has embarked on a bold infrastructure agenda: over 82 secondary schools already completed, 46 set to be finished in 2025, and 120 new institutions under construction, alongside 169 ECE hubs and 145 satellite centers to reach underserved areas.
During the meeting, Suri shared Maser’s vision for modern student housing built through public–private partnership models. He outlined a multi‑phase plan utilizing sustainable building design, digital infrastructure, and vocational training facilities integrated into these campuses. “Zambia’s youth deserve world-class learning environments,” Suri remarked. “Maser is prepared to leverage its experience to co-create impactful educational infrastructure.”
Minister Syakalima responded positively, stating, “We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Maser. The CEO’s entrepreneurial success and the company’s commitment to Africa’s education development are exactly the kind of partnership we need to scale our infrastructure goals.”
Beyond housing, the dialogue extended to opportunities in blended learning, vocational skills, rural outreach, and digital inclusion. With Zambia implementing its forward‑looking 2023 Education Curriculum this year—including early childhood, primary, and Form 1 levels—the minister highlighted the need for supporting infrastructure at all levels to enable effective rollout.
Under Minister Syakalima’s tenure, the education sector has seen notable progress: 4,200 new teachers hired recently, bringing the total teacher workforce to over 40,000 in three years; strengthened focus on foundational learning via teacher training programmes like the “Catch Up Programme”; and ambitious expansion of school infrastructure across Zambia’s provinces.
Maser, co‑founded by Prateek Suri, transformed from an African startup in consumer electeonics and large infrastructure projects into a multi‑sector unicorn operating in real estate, renewable energy, mining and education technology. Its rapid rise and African focus have made Suri a leading figure in bolstering India–Africa economic relations.
As the richest Indian in Africa, Prateek Suri’s influence spans beyond business success—it represents growing bilateral investment aimed at credible, sustainable societal impact. His partnership with Zambia’s Ministry of Education signals a new era of cross-border collaboration in education infrastructure.
With both parties committing to inclusive planning and scalable implementation, the Maser‑Zambia dialogue could mark the beginning of transformative initiatives: from affordable student housing to cutting‑edge learning facilities, vocational training hubs, and digital classrooms.
In closing remarks on the significance of this dialogue, Suri stated, “Education infrastructure is the foundation for future growth. Our partnership with Minister Syakalima and the Government of Zambia is a testament to collective investment in youth, equity, and sustainable development.” Minister Syakalima echoed this optimism, saying that with strategic public–private investment, Zambia’s education sector is poised for a significant elevation.
This meeting lays the groundwork for collaboration that bridges government strategy and corporate innovation—ultimately aiming to empower Zambia’s students and accelerate national development.
Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk
CSCS Inaugurates Custodian Portal to Enhance Digital Access, Operational Efficiency
Reps Investigate 25 Insurance Firms for Financial Infractions
Flaw in Microsoft SharePoint Sparks Global Cybersecurity Concern
Naira Slides Again, Hits ₦1,532.34/$ Despite CBN’s Dollar Push
E-Financial2 days agoUBA’s LEO Becomes Africa’s First Chatbot to Enable Cross-Border Payments
News2 days agoUN Appoints Sa’id, Nigerian to Nuclear Panel
E-Business2 days agoNIMC Enrolls 122m for NIN, Cuts Extortion by 40 Percent
Telecom2 days agoMTN Urges Nigerian to Regards Telecom Infrastructure as National Assets
General News2 days agoAppeal Court Nullifies Registration of ‘KPMG Professional Services’
Telecom23 hours agoMTN Nigeria Rewards 1,500+ Winners with ₦290m in Mega Billion Promo
Telecom2 days agoBitget Launches $6M Global Crypto Trading Contest with New Competitive Segments
E-Financial2 days agoSEC to Introduce USSD Codes to Fight Ponzi Schemes