Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to declare open the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Enugu on Thursday, September 24, with more than 500 editors and other stakeholders expected to attend.
The two-day conference, the flagship annual gathering of the Guild, will take place at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu, from Thursday to Friday, September 25.
The conference, with the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” will also examine the growing challenge of artificial intelligence-driven disinformation under the sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”
In a statement signed by the NGE President and General Secretary, Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, respectively, the Guild said Shettima would address participants on democracy, elections, press freedom and national development.
The Vice President is also expected to speak on the responsibilities of the media and other stakeholders in strengthening democratic governance and public confidence in the electoral process.
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, is also scheduled to address the conference.
The Guild said the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, would chair the event, while former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, would deliver the keynote address.
Other speakers include Professor Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, 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 speak on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”
The conference will also feature discussions on the media’s responsibilities in reporting insecurity and terrorism, with former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja, and journalist and columnist, Owei Lakemfa, scheduled to speak on “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Professor Chinyere Okunna, will address the issue of “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance.”
The human and professional pressures associated with journalism will also come under scrutiny, with the Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, Dr Richard Okoye, speaking on “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 lead discussions on artificial intelligence and electoral disinformation, focusing on how journalists can detect and debunk false information before, during and after elections.
The second day of the conference will feature an executive session at 12:30pm, during which editors are expected to engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance.
According to the Guild, the conference will provide an opportunity for media leaders and other stakeholders to examine practical ways of strengthening democratic governance, promoting national development and advancing nation-building through responsible and responsive journalism.
It said the gathering would also enable editors to interrogate challenges confronting democracy, particularly the role of the media in safeguarding credible elections, rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic values.
The conference is supported by the Enugu State Government, UNESCO, Craneburg, NNPC, Zenith Bank, NCC and other partners.