Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Thursday, September 24, declare open the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Enugu. The two-day conference, which is the flagship annual gathering of the Guild, will take place at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara……
Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Thursday, September 24, declare open the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Enugu.
The two-day conference, which is the flagship annual gathering of the Guild, will take place at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu, from 2pm on Thursday and continue on Friday, September 25.
The conference is themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” with the sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”
In a statement signed by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild said Shettima would address participants on democracy, elections, press freedom and national development.
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, is also expected to address the conference.
More than 500 editors from across Nigeria, as well as government officials, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders, are expected to attend the event.
The Guild said the conference would examine critical national and global issues with social, economic and political implications, particularly the role of the media in strengthening democratic governance and credible elections.
The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, will chair the conference, while former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
Other speakers include Professor Auwal Yadudu of Bayero University, Kano, who will speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.”
Immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, will address “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”
On the second day, former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja, and journalist and activist Owei Lakemfa will examine “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Professor Chinyere Okunna, will speak on “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance.”
Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, Dr Richard Okoye, will address “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing.”
Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, Farooq A. Kperogi, will focus on the conference’s artificial intelligence and disinformation sub-theme, examining ways of detecting and debunking false information before, during and after elections.
The second day will also feature an Executive Session at 12:30pm, where editors will engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance.
The NGE said the conference would provide a platform to examine practical ways of strengthening democratic governance, promoting national development and advancing nation-building through responsible and responsive journalism.
The Guild added that the gathering would also enable media leaders to interrogate challenges confronting democracy, safeguard credible elections, rebuild public trust and strengthen democratic values.
The conference is supported by the Enugu State Government, UNESCO, Craneburg, NNPC, Zenith Bank, NCC and others.
