BY OLUWASEYI JIMOH
…. Positive FM Intern , Seyi Jimoh Bags Best Student Award…….
A former managing director and Editor-in – Chief, Guardian Newspapers , Mr. Martins Oloja has asked the federal government to invest strategically in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education , STEM with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence.
Mr. Oloja made the call at the 7th Convocation Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism , NIJ themed “AI in Public Governance”, held in Lagos.
Mr Oloja posited that this would enhance Nigeria’s global digital reputation.
Drawing from over three decades of experience in public affairs and policy, Mr. Oloja lamented Nigeria’s missed opportunity to host Google’s African AI centre ,attributing this to inadequate investment in technology infrastructure across the universities.
He called for collaboration to galvanize support for STEM education.
“This is not about politics. This is about our governance system,” Oloja said. “As Mandela once predicted, if Nigeria cannot lead the Black race, then we cannot lead at all.”
Oloja also praised the NIJ’s management for selecting a timely and critical topic for the convocation lecture, emphasizing the urgency for media professionals and future journalists to understand the impact of AI on governance and society.
Delivering the convocation lecture , the Comptroller-General , Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Bashir Adeniyi underscored how AI was transforming the architecture of public governance, offering opportunities to enhance service delivery, resource management, and civic engagement.
He however raised important concerns about equity, transparency, and privacy inspite of the gains of the AI .
“The quality of Nigeria’s democracy in this AI era will significantly depend on how well journalists perform their critical function,” Adeniyi stated. Quoting Mattia Peretti, he added, “The world needs journalists to report on AI and hold these systems and the people behind them accountable.”
While encouraging media professionals to embrace AI, the Customs Chief also warned against over-reliance, noting that excessive dependence may diminish core journalistic skills like critical thinking and perspective.
“AI has enabled us to reach wider audiences, but it also risks spreading misinformation through generated content,” he said.
“We must approach AI governance with both optimism and vigilance” the CG disclosed
The vice-chairman of the NIJ governing council and chairman of the event, Mr. Ray Ekpu said the lecture on A.I would benefit of graduands as they march out to the work field.
The Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism , NIJ , Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, appreciated the in-depth analysis of AI’s implications, urging the audience to master AI tools rather than fear them. “The message is clear: AI is here to stay, Master it and don’t be intimidated by it ” he affirmed.
707 graduands were conferred with Distinctions, Upper Credit, Lower Credit and Pass certificates in National Diploma ND , Higher National Diploma , HND and Post-Graduate Diploma ,PGD with 60 of the graduands earning the distinction grade.
Positive FM Intern , Oluwaseyi Jimoh for her brilliance performance got the award for the overall best student in PGD Print Journalism, 2024 with the distinction grade.
The NIJ 7th convocation lecture was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life .