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The University of Ilorin on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, hosted a landmark gathering of media scholars, students, and policy leaders at the 15th edition of the Doyin Mahmoud Annual Lecture, where the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and journalism took centre stage. Amid growing concerns over disinformation and deepfakes, the keynote speaker, Professor Isiaka Zubair Aliagan, delivered a stirring appeal for a journalism profession deeply anchored in truth, ethics, and public trust.

Held at the Communication and Information Sciences Lecture Theatre, the event themed “Journalism in the Era of AI-Generated Content and Deepfakes” brought together a wide spectrum of stakeholders — from academics and government officials to veteran journalists and aspiring media professionals — all confronting the complex, fast-evolving impact of artificial intelligence on the information landscape.

AI: The Most Disruptive Force in Journalism’s History

Professor Aliagan, former editor of The Herald and a renowned journalism scholar, described artificial intelligence as “the most disruptive force journalism has ever encountered.” He traced the profession’s trajectory from the analog printing press to today’s algorithm-driven platforms, warning that AI had not merely entered the newsroom — it was reconfiguring the very nature of news itself.

“Artificial intelligence has not merely knocked on journalism’s door,” Aliagan asserted. “It has walked in, settled down, and is already reshaping the very foundations of how we create, distribute, and consume news.”

With real-world examples, he spotlighted the dangers of manipulated media: a fake image of a Pentagon explosion that rattled U.S. stock markets; deepfakes mimicking political leaders; AI-generated robocalls impersonating candidates; and, within Nigeria, cloned voices of political and religious figures spreading falsehoods. These incidents, he warned, underscore the existential risk AI poses to credibility, trust, and democratic accountability.

While acknowledging the value of AI in data journalism, automated reporting, and translation, Aliagan cautioned that these benefits could be outweighed by the erosion of editorial standards, human oversight, and truth verification if safeguards are not urgently put in place.

Kwara Government Joins the Call for Reform and Readiness

Representing the Kwara State Government, the Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, echoed Aliagan’s urgent call. Her address — delivered by Dr. Fatimah Amuda — emphasized that AI must augment, not replace, ethical judgment in journalism.

“Journalism depends on two sacred currencies: truth and trust,” Olukoju said. “Unchecked AI-generated content and deepfakes have the power to erode both.”

She challenged students and media professionals alike to become digitally literate, ethically grounded, and socially responsible, urging newsrooms to invest in detection tools and governments to enact laws that simultaneously protect press freedom and guard against disinformation.

“You are not just media students,” she told the audience. “You are the guardians of public trust in the age of digital illusion.”

A Legacy of Critical Engagement

Established in 2010 in memory of Alhaji Doyin Mahmoud, the founding Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Unilorin, the annual lecture has grown to become a premier forum for intellectual and professional discourse in Nigeria’s media space. The 2025 edition reaffirmed its reputation, tackling one of the most pressing dilemmas in modern journalism.

Among the dignitaries present were Prof. Lukuman Azeez, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences; Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, Kwara State Commissioner for Education; Dr. Patrick Udende, current Head of Department; Prof. Saudat Abdulbaqi, Head of Unilorin Television; and Hon. Ibrahim Abdulateef, Senior Special Assistant on Communication to the Governor. Also present were respected academics including Prof. Razak Owolabi Abdulkadir, who represented Dr. Mahmud Abdulraheem.

The Association of Mass Communication Students (AMCOS) turned out in large numbers, visibly inspired by the discussions. Many students described the lecture as a defining moment, combining technological foresight with ethical urgency.

AMCOS Staff Adviser and members of the faculty praised the organisers for sustaining a tradition that not only honours the past but prepares the next generation of journalists for a future fraught with both opportunity and peril.

Journalism’s Ethical Reckoning

As the digital age redefines how information is produced and perceived, the 2025 Doyin Mahmoud Lecture served as a stark reminder: journalism’s strength lies not in its speed or sophistication, but in its integrity and social responsibility. The battle for truth, once waged against censorship and bias, is now also against machine-generated deception.

Professor Aliagan’s parting words left a resonant echo:
“The future of truth itself may well depend on the choices we make today. Let us choose wisely, act courageously, and work together to ensure journalism continues to serve as democracy’s essential watchdog.”

In a world where illusion often masquerades as reality, the lecture was more than a scholarly exercise — it was a call to arms for a new generation of ethical, tech-savvy journalists ready to reclaim the public trust.

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