ENUGU — Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to declare open today, Thursday, September 24, 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 2:00 p.m. today and continue on Friday, September 25.
The conference is centred on the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” with a sub-theme focusing on the growing challenge of artificial intelligence-generated disinformation: “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”
According to a statement by NGE President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, Shettima is expected to address editors and other participants on democracy, elections, press freedom and national development.
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Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, is also scheduled to address the gathering.
More than 500 editors from across Nigeria, alongside government officials, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders, are expected to participate in discussions on issues with major democratic, social, economic and political implications.
The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, will chair the conference, while former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, will deliver the keynote address.
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Other prominent speakers include Professor Auwal Yadudu of Bayero University, Kano, who will examine “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.”
The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, will discuss “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”
The conference will also feature discussions on the media’s responsibilities when covering terrorism. Veteran journalist and former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja, alongside columnist and activist Owei Lakemfa, will speak on “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”
On media professionalism and election security, Professor Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, will address “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance.”
The human and professional pressures facing journalists will also receive attention, with Dr Richard Okoye, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, speaking on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing.”
A major focus of the conference will be the impact of artificial intelligence on the information environment.
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Professor Farooq A. Kperogi, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, will examine how journalists can detect and debunk AI-driven disinformation before, during and after elections.
The second day of the conference will feature an Executive Session at 12:30 p.m., providing an opportunity for editors to engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors said the conference is designed to provide practical pathways for strengthening democratic governance, promoting national development and advancing nation-building through responsible and responsive journalism.
The Guild also said the gathering would enable media leaders to examine the challenges confronting democracy, the media’s role in supporting credible elections, the rebuilding of public trust and the strengthening of democratic values.
The 2026 ANEC is supported by the Enugu State Government, UNESCO, Craneburg, NNPC, Zenith Bank, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other partners.
The conference comes at a time when the rapid development of artificial intelligence has created new challenges for news organizations, particularly around fabricated images, videos, audio recordings and other forms of manipulated information capable of misleading voters and the wider public.
The discussions in Enugu are therefore expected to place particular emphasis on how editors and journalists can maintain professional standards, verify information and protect public confidence in the media while navigating an increasingly complex digital information environment.
