The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has urged media organisations to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) tools to verify information and strengthen public trust in journalism.
Abdullahi made the call on Thursday at the official unveiling of the Media Trust Group’s converged newsroom, where he stressed the importance of ethical and responsible AI use in news production.
He said AI’s greatest contribution to journalism should not be the speed of breaking news but its ability to help journalists authenticate information and tackle the growing challenge of distinguishing genuine content from fabricated material.
“We should make sure we are not using AI to replace people. AI is a tool that can enhance what we do. Therefore, for us, the greatest contribution AI can give to the newsroom is not generating faster breaking news, but helping people believe what they see,” he said.
The NITDA director-general noted that advances in AI technology had made it increasingly difficult for the public to determine whether images, videos and other digital content were authentic.
According to him, manipulated content can make individuals appear to say or do things they never said or did, posing a serious challenge to journalists and media organisations committed to providing credible information.
“Today, it is difficult to believe anything you see. People can take anybody’s picture to get him speaking or doing things, which makes it difficult for people to believe what they see,” Abdullahi said.
He urged journalists to prioritise verification before publishing or sharing information, stressing that the media had a critical responsibility to help the public navigate the growing volume of digital content.
“What people are looking for from people like you in the media, journalists, is to make sure you authenticate everything before amplifying it,” he said.
Abdullahi expressed confidence that the Media Trust Group would integrate AI tools into its newsroom operations to improve information verification, clarify reports and strengthen the credibility of its journalism.
“I believe you are going to use AI in your newsroom for clarification, for amplifying authenticity, and for letting people trust what they see,” he added.
His remarks underscore the growing importance of responsible AI adoption in journalism, particularly as manipulated images, videos and other forms of digital misinformation pose increasing challenges to public confidence in the media.
