Shettima, Onaiyekan, Mbah for Enugu NGE conference

Vice President Kashim Shettima. Credit: Stanley Nkwocha/X

Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Thursday declare open the 22nd All Nigeria Editors’ Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

The two-day conference will be held at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Enugu, from Thursday to Friday.

According to a statement by the President and General Secretary of the NGE, Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, respectively, Shettima will speak to the conference theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.”

The conference also has as its sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”

“The Vice President is also expected to speak on other issues relating to democracy, elections, press freedom and national development,” the statement added.

The conference will bring together about 500 editors from across the country.

Also to make various inputs during the conference on national and global issues are government officials, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders.

Among the personalities to speak at the conference are Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, as event chairman; while former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, will deliver the keynote address.

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Other speakers lined up for the conference include Prof Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, who will speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.”

The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), will address the editors on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”

Other speakers are former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja, and newspaper columnist and activist Owei Lakemfa, will speak on “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Prof Chinyere Okunna, will address the conference on “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance,” while the Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, Dr Richard Okoye, will speak on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Well-being.”

Also, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, Farooq Kperogi, will examine the conference sub-theme, “Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation,” focusing on the detection and debunking of false information before, during and after elections.

The statement added, “The conference will provide a platform for editors and other stakeholders to examine practical pathways for strengthening democratic governance, promoting national development and advancing nation-building through responsible and responsive journalism.

“The gathering would also enable media leaders to interrogate the challenges confronting democracy and examine the role of the media in safeguarding credible elections, rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic values.”

The conference will also see the editors engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance.