The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Akeem Abas, has said that artificial intelligence (AI) poses no threat to journalists who are willing to update their digital skills, stressing that only those who refuse to learn risk being replaced.

Abas remarked on Wednesday in Ibadan at a two-day AI training programme organised by the NUJ Oyo State Council in collaboration with the American Open University, Nigeria.

The training, titled “Empowering Journalists with Artificial Intelligence for Ethical, Innovative and Future-ready Journalism,” brought together 120 journalists from across the state.

According to Abas, a digitally empowered journalist is not a danger to national development but a strategic partner in nation-building. He noted that journalists equipped with AI skills could diversify into roles such as media consultants, data analysts, content strategists and communication advisers for governments, institutions and private organisations.

He added that journalists could also establish media and technology startups, including fact-checking platforms, investigative journalism labs, digital storytelling studios, local data hubs and AI-assisted news platforms serving niche audiences.

“With the right skills, journalists can function as policy advisers and public communication experts, supporting government agencies, legislators, and development institutions with research-based insights and evidence-driven narratives,” Abas said.

He described the training as a capacity-building initiative rather than an act of charity, noting that it aligns with Nigeria’s Digital Economy Agenda, which prioritises digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development.

“As Nigeria moves towards a knowledge-based economy, journalists must not be excluded from this transformation,” he said.

Abas explained that the training fulfilled a campaign promise by the NUJ leadership to move beyond symbolic unionism to policy-driven engagement that ensures relevance, sustainability, and dignity for journalists in a changing media landscape.

“This training of 120 journalists is a direct fulfillment of that promise. AI will not replace journalists; it will only replace journalists who refuse to learn,” he said.

He urged participants to transition from routine reporting to analytical, solution-oriented journalism by interrogating data, interpreting policies and enlightening citizens in ways that strengthen democracy and accountability.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the American Open University, Prof. Akanbi, identified misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda as major threats to journalism. He encouraged journalists to deploy AI tools to promote content integrity, social responsibility, professional excellenc,e and innovation.

The VC further advised journalists to partner with organisations such as Google to establish fact-checking platforms aimed at improving accuracy and credibility in news reporting.