Enugu Governor, Peter Mba, called on journalists to leverage artificial intelligence to enhance their reporting and careers in order to do a good job holding leaders accountable and maintaining public trust.
Speaking at the State House Press Corps Two-Day Capacity Building Retreat and Workshop, themed “Artificial Intelligence Utilization for Effective Journalism,” Peter Mba harped on the need to uphold the ethos of journalism while adopting innovation to improve the practice.
He also highlighted Enugu’s long history with the media and its existing legacy, making Enugu State a perfect choice for the Workshop.
“This city has historically been a stomping ground for the media, right from the pre-Independence era. So, there couldn’t be a more appropriate location for this media workshop.
“As a bastion of democracy, it is essential that journalists never lose sight of their sacred role of holding leaders to account, and strengthening our institutions – lest they become simply beholden to power.
“This ensures that it serves as society’s guardrails in our quest to build a cohesive and developed society.
“The media is the conscience of the nation. But in an age where truth is so brazenly assailed by deliberate falsehood, how can the media successfully discharge its roles?
“This question is even more compelling in this era, where the tools of Artificial Intelligence can be so easily deployed for untoward ends.
“There’s no doubt that the birth of social media has had a profound impact on social consciousness and the push for good governance,” he stated.
On Artificial Intelligence
Peter Mbah harped on artificial Intelligence being the present technology and no longer a future prospect. Mbah said Nigerians and journalists should leverage artificial intelligence to make their lives easier. He acknowledged the influence of AI in the daily lives of people, with tools like Google Maps gaining mainstream adoption.
“Artificial Intelligence is not the next frontier; it is actually with us now and impacting our lives in ways we may not immediately discern.
“We miss the point if we simply view Artificial Intelligence through the lens of conspiracy theories and fear: that it will lead to job losses, overwhelm humanity, etc.
“We should rather see Artificial Intelligence as a tool that can make us work smarter.
Even without realizing it, we are using AI tools in our everyday life, from direction apps like Google and Apple Maps to tasks such as internet searches.
So, there’s no playing the ostrich as far as Al is concerned; its influence looms large just as the impact of the steam engine had been during the Industrial Revolution. Mbah Said.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State is a key sponsor of the Enugu Campus Hackathon 2025, a tech innovation challenge organized by the Enugu SME Center and partners like Genesys Tech Hub. The hackathon, offering over ₦165 million in prizes, targets students and alumni from six universities to develop solutions in FinTech, AgriTech, and AI.
Mbah’s support aligns with his “Coal to Code” vision, fostering Enugu’s transformation into a tech hub through youth empowerment and digital infrastructure development.
