The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, has commended the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for prioritising training and capacity building for journalists in the state.
Oyelade gave the commendation while addressing participants at a one-day Google training organised by the union at the Amphitheatre Hall, Dominion Broadcast House, Ibadan.
The commissioner praised the NUJ leadership under its chairman, Akeem Abass, for focusing on Artificial Intelligence as a strategic response to the evolving challenges in the media industry.
“I agree entirely with Mr Akeem Abass that AI can only endanger the jobs of journalists who refuse to learn,” Oyelade said.
He urged journalists to take full advantage of the training, noting that continuous learning would help them remain relevant, sharpen their skills and enhance professional standards.
“The challenges of information gathering are growing by the day, and we cannot afford to be left behind,” he added.
Drawing from his 47 years of experience in journalism, Oyelade reflected on his service as former NUJ State Vice Chairman between 1984 and 1985.
He cited the union’s earlier two-day AI training in January and the current Google training as evidence of its readiness to confront modern realities in journalism.
Earlier in his remarks, Abass expressed appreciation to dignitaries and journalists who attended what he described as the second Artificial Intelligence training programme organised in partnership with Google Africa.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at equipping journalists with relevant digital skills and strengthening their capacity for ethical and impactful reporting.
Abass stressed that journalists who embrace AI tools stand to gain a competitive professional advantage. He also called for support towards establishing a fact-checking platform ahead of the 2027 general elections to curb misinformation and promote credible journalism.
The NUJ chairman further thanked Google Africa for the collaboration and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to professional excellence in Oyo State.
