Deploy AI for good governance, experts task FG, states

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Communication scholars and professionals have admonished state governments and the federal government to develop policies on Artificial Intelligence (AI), fact-checking and verification.

This, they noted, could be achieved by collaboration with big tech companies, government agencies, civil society organisations and academics.

This call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 11th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) signed by its general secretary, Dr Solomon Oyeleye.

The conference’s call was sequel to a keynote address delivered by publisher of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi where he posited that Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds prospects for quality public service delivery, inclusivity, good governance, growth and accountability.

In the address titled: “Digital communication and governance in Africa,” Olorunyomi called for the design and implementation of a national policy on the deployment of AI strategy.

However, he cautioned that AI must be deployed ethically to avoid privacy violations and ensure good governance.

Olorunyomi had also identified that the news media industry in Africa was faced with unprecedented crises of funding and information disorder that require the focus and attention of media scholars, practitioners, government, civil society and all professionals in the media and communication space.

To this end, the conference stated that communication and journalism institutions and scholars should engage in attracting funds that can be used to construct AI and digital communication laboratories and newsrooms for teaching next generation of scholars and practitioners.

Communication researchers and practitioners were particularly tasked to work with scholars around the world to understand and develop AI neutral network-based methods in order to map opinions and discussion for good governance and development in Africa.

In the same, it was stressed that communication institutions in Africa should construct and maintain news rooms and laboratories managed by professors of practice, who will teach the next generation of journalists and other practitioners in media and communication industry.

Furthermore, there was a call on individual departments in the unbundled Communication and Media Studies in Nigeria to ensure that they add the 30 percent local content required in line with the expertise of the educators in their disciplines.

Earlier, chairman of the conference, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye noted that the process of digitalisation of information, good governance and change was very difficult and capital-intensive but must be confronted by leaders, scholars and governments at all levels.

In his remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said the Lagos State Government was already adopting digital communication as a pillar in transforming governance by connecting the State with fibre optic cables as part of its smart city project.

He said roads in the State were installed with CCTV cameras to control crime and ease navigations by commuters.

On his part, the vice-president, South-West ASCPN, Professor Rotimi Olatunji stressed that the deployment of digital communication in governance in Nigeria and Africa was inevitable.

Also speaking, the ACSPN President, Professor Umaru Pate, said communication scholars and professionals must cultivate, nurture and sustain network and relationship building among themselves.

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