News
2025 World Press Freedon Day: NHRC seeks AI alignment with human rights principles

As Nigeria joins the rest of the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Press Freedom Day, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has advocated for the establishment of ethical and legal frameworks to address the myriad of challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence, AI.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, who stated this in Abuja on the 2025 commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, highlighted the need for regulations that ensure AI development aligns with human rights principles, preventing potential abuses and safeguarding fundamental freedoms.
Accordingly, the Commission proposed issuing an advisory on the use and deployment of Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria very soon.
The senior lawyer observed that while AI could be deployed to enhance journalistic activities such as content development, investigative reporting, research and fact-checking, it could also be a source of worry when it is manipulated for misinformation, cyber bullying, emotional abuse and inciting comments.
The Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria noted that the theme of 2025 commemoration, “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media” is apt given the exponential growth of digital communications and utilization of AI in virtually all aspects of life.
According to him, AI tools have greatly impacted on the enjoyment of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media by eliminating barriers to timely and effective communication.
AI tools, he said, have at the same time aided the breach of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media when applied unprofessionally without deference to ethical regulations.
The NHRC boss urged the Citizens including journalists to take advantage of AI in the most positive and responsible manner to deepen the realisation of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media while at the same time avoiding inciting statements against constituted authorities and other members of the public.
In the same vein, the Executive Secretary enjoined those in authority to cooperate with the journalists in the course of discharging their constitutional responsibility, which among others includes holding the government accountable to the people.
He therefore urged all stakeholders to always recognize the press as a critical partner in the democratic process and desist from any form of confrontation and interference with the lawful duties of journalists and other media workers, otherwise they will be found on the wrong side of the law.
The legal luminary commended journalists for courageously discharging their constitutional responsibility despite occasional harassment, intimidation, and seizure/destruction of their working tools by some overzealous security agents.
The observance of the World Press Freedom Day, the Executive Secretary stated, is not an opportunity to apportion blame to any individual, Institution or group of persons but it is a time to reminisce the fundamental principles of press freedom, ponder on the state of press freedom globally, defend the Media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in their line of duty.
The World Press Freedom Day was first celebrated in 1993 on the 3rd of May to remind governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and to remind journalists of their obligation to professional ethics in the course of their duties.
The statement was issued on Saturday by Hajia Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC.
News
VIDEO: Tears As Students’s Hostel Collapses

A building collapse occurred at Pentagon Lodge near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State on Friday.
Students witnessed the incident, with one student captured on video expressing concern over the lodge’s collapse, saying, “See my lodge is falling, all my properties are inside.
”A video clip of the incident, seen by Naija News House , showed the moment the three-storey building collapsed.
As of the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether there were causalities as details of the collapse are still emerging.
A student, also said that students in that particular lodge had earlier noticed the cracks on the walls and some had already moved out of the facility before the collapse.
“Only properties inside the building are likely those of students that traveled out of the town,” the source said.
Recently there were reports of building collapses in Ebonyi State, including a three-storey building under construction near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital.
In the construction building collapse, two persons were trapped and later rescued, with one labourer escaping due to stepping out to wash his hands before the collapse.
Sequel to the building collapses, the Ebonyi State government had established a special investigative committee to determine the causes of such incidents and prevent future occurrences.
The committee’s findings and recommendations aim to improve building standards and enforcement in the state.
Click here to Watch Video:
News
FG denies 12 Years Minimum Entry Age Into JSS1
Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.

The Federal Government has debunked a report claiming that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.
The Ministry of Education Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, made this known via a statement issued on Friday, July 25, 2025.
Boriowo said the report was inaccurate, noting that it did not come from any official source and did not reflect government policy.Boriowo stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years.
“No child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”
Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.
News
NGE Mandates Media Organizations to set up fact-check desks in the newsroom to Fight Fake News
During the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arrest fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

Editors under the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have resolved today to henceforth set up a fact-check desk in their various newsrooms as a measure to tackle fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
The decision was reached on the occasion of a one-day workshop organised by the European Union (EU) NGE in Lagos on Thursday.
The editors said that having a Fact-Check Desk would help media organisations verify news hints, with the view to publishing only accurate information.
Other key decisions taken at the end of the workshop include:
Media organizations should organise trainings for their newsroom managers and line editors on fact-checking.
The Guild should set up disinformation counter groups across its zonal structures, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Media organizations should collaborate and reach out to each other to verify information.
Media organisations should look at the quality of their Online Editors to ensure that experienced and well-grounded journalists man the position.
The Guild should use other of its bigger platforms to address issues bordering on fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
During the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arrest fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
Mignot said that the EU was taking a multi-pronged approach to address the threats posed by misleading information, which he described as a “danger to democracy and public trust.
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