By Danjuma Amodu
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described Media Trust Group’s converged newsroom as a major investment in Nigerian journalism, urging media organisations to embrace artificial intelligence and digital innovation without compromising professional ethics and editorial independence.
Idris stated this in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the unveiling of the group’s converged newsroom.
He congratulated the Board, Management and workforce of Media Trust on its growth from newspaper publishing into a diversified multimedia enterprise, saying the integration of print, broadcast and digital platforms reflects the need for innovation to meet changing audience expectations.
(L-R) Director-General of the News Agency of Nigeria, Ali M. Ali; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Chairman, Media Trust Group, Kabiru Yusuf; Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Barau Jibrin; Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau; and Group Chief Executive Officer, Media Trust Group, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, at the launch of Media Trust’s AI-powered converged newsroom in Abuja on October 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Khalid Ahmed/FMINO
“Technology is fundamentally transforming journalism, creating exciting opportunities through artificial intelligence, data journalism and multimedia storytelling. However, innovation must strengthen, rather than diminish, the professional judgement, ethical standards and human responsibility upon which credible journalism rests,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to press freedom, constructive engagement and journalists’ right to scrutinise public institutions, while stressing the importance of sustainable media business models to employment, investment and national development.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Idris urged media organisations to prioritise accuracy, fairness and fact-checking and resist sensationalism and disinformation, warning that AI-generated content, manipulated images and deepfakes pose growing threats to public trust.
“The credibility of our democratic process depends, in no small measure, on the integrity of the information available to citizens,” he said.
He encouraged the group to make its converged newsroom a centre of innovation, investigative excellence and responsible storytelling, adding that journalism could inspire the public while retaining its independence.
“The idea that journalism has to be exclusively adversarial is a myth that needs to be jettisoned,” Idris said.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, commended Media Trust Group for its entrepreneurial vision, professionalism and contribution to national development through investment and job creation, urging it to sustain ethical standards and promote national unity.
“What you are doing should always aim at uniting this country,” Jibrin said.
The Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, described the adoption of artificial intelligence by the group as a major technological feat, noting the growing difficulty of distinguishing authentic content from fabricated images and voices.
“I want to congratulate Media Trust, which is the first in West Africa to establish an AI newsroom,” Namadi said.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the agency’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy supports AI adoption across sectors, including the media, while emphasising that technology should enhance rather than replace human capacity.
“Today, in the era of AI, we want to see you using AI to verify everything,” he said.
The event was attended by media executives, CEOs of media organisations, senior government officials and industry stakeholders.
