IPI Nigeria to tackle AI threat to media trust at Abuja conference
- IPI Nigeria will hold a two-day conference in Abuja on December 2 and 3, 2026.
- The event will focus on AI, deepfakes and information integrity ahead of the 2027 elections.
- The second day is reserved for the group's Annual General Meeting for members only.
The Nigerian branch of the International Press Institute (IPI) will gather editors, journalists and media freedom advocates in Abuja next month to discuss how artificial intelligence is testing public trust in the news.
The two-day conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) will hold on December 2 and 3, 2026, at the Bolton White Hotel in Wuse Zone 7, Abuja. The theme is “Truth Under Pressure: Journalism, AI and Information Integrity.”
The plan was announced in a statement jointly signed by IPI Nigeria's Deputy President, Fidelis Mbah, and Secretary, Ahmed Shekarau.
Why it matters to readers
Fake videos, cloned voices and AI-written stories are getting cheaper and easier to make. For ordinary Nigerians, that means it is becoming harder to tell a real news report from a manufactured one, especially on WhatsApp and social media.
The conference will look at how AI-generated deepfakes and other synthetic media threaten trust in journalism, particularly as Nigeria heads toward the 2027 general elections. Participants will also explore how newsrooms can use AI-powered verification tools to detect and counter misinformation.
IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed said the gathering would examine how journalists can use AI tools and transparent verification to protect the accuracy of their reporting. He said it would also be a chance to assess media freedom and the safety of journalists in Nigeria, and to discuss the policy and legal reforms needed to support independent journalism.
Strengthening collaboration between the media and security agencies is another key focus, according to the statement. Policymakers, subject-matter experts, media executives and press freedom advocates are expected to attend.
What happens next
The first day will be open to the wider group of participants. December 3 is reserved for the AGM, an exclusive session for IPI Nigeria members, where reports from the Executive Committee will be reviewed and new initiatives and partnerships considered.
New members will also be inducted into IPI Nigeria during the conference.
IPI was founded in 1950 and describes itself as a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in more than 100 countries.
