Oyo commissioner encourages media to embrace AI for improved reportage

Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, has urged journalists to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate story ideas and write compelling reports and articles .

Oyelade made the call on Tuesday at a Google AI training organised by the state Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with Google Africa.

The commissioner said that the need to embrace AI aligned with NUJ’s vision for journalists to upgrade their knowledge and skill for improved reportage.

‘’The challenges of gathering information are becoming enormous and journalists, bloggers and others must embrace AI knowledge in order not to be left behind.

‘’Due to the experience that I have been privileged to gather over the years, it is incumbent on me to encourage journalists, bloggers and others to associate themselves and align closely with the vision of the new NUJ leadership.

“I believe the training is leading us to a better place,” Oyelade said.

He commended the state NUJ leadership led by Mr Akeem Abas for his vision of upgrading the knowledge of journalists in the state.

Earlier, Abas said the training was a clear testament of the union’s commitment to equip members with the tools required to thrive in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

The NUJ boss said that the training aimed to empower journalists to work smarter, verify information faster, tell deeper stories, and uphold the ethics of the profession.

‘’AI will not replace journalists, but will be an advantage to those who understand its usage, ‘’ he said.

Abas appreciated Google Africa for the collaboration and for believing in the capacity of journalists in the state.

In his remarks, Google Communications Manager, Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said AI was the most transformative technology that everyone, including journalists, must embrace.

Kola-Ogunlade said that the technology was really transforming how media and journalist operated, urging media professional to take advantage of it.