•Abimbola Adebisi

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of Superintendent of Police Abimbola Adebisi as the new Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Babasayi Oluseyi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the Command said Adebisi brings “a wealth of academic, professional, and operational experience” into her new role.

The new PPRO holds a BA (Ed) in English Language and Literature from Tai Solarin University of Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, and a Master of Arts (MA) in English Language from the National Open University of Nigeria.

Her appointment comes after the previous spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin was promoted to the position of the Force Public Relations Officer.

The statement further noted her professional training, “She has a Certificate in Child Protection from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra, Ghana, alongside certifications in Human Rights, Human Psychology, and Conflict Management.“

She has equally attended the Advanced Detective Course at the Police Staff College, Jos.”

Image credit : Reuters

Guinness World Record on Monday officially confirmed Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci’s largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, with a staggering total weight of 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz).

Announcing the confirmation via X (formerly Twitter), Guinness World Records wrote: “New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

The feat was accomplished in partnership with food brand Gino at Victoria Island, Lagos, and has now been formally recognized by Guinness World Records.

Baci, who first rose to global fame with her headline-grabbing cook-a-thon in 2023, has once again placed Nigerian cuisine on the world stage with this remarkable achievement.

Ahead of the confirmation, Guinness World Records had sent her words of encouragement, reposting a video from the Friday event and writing:“What’s cookin’?

Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice today.

The record-breaking cooking event was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, attracting a massive crowd of supporters, celebrities, and food enthusiasts who gathered to witness history being made.

By: BABS DARAMOLA

I watched in disbelief today as one of Nigeria’s top national TV stations used AI to voice a news report. Let me be clear: AI has its place in journalism. It can help gather data, fact-check, and streamline production. But reading the news? Delivering it to the public? That’s a strp too far. Presentation must remain human work.

Broadcast journalism is more than a recitation of facts; it is a craft built on experience, judgment, and empathy. Great stations pride themselves on the caliber of their reporters; their pedigree, their training, and their ability to probe beyond the script. These are professionals who have spent years in the field, enduring challenges, asking the hard questions, and ensuring that the public receives information that is accurate, contextualized, and ethically presented. AI can never replicate this.

The danger of using AI to replace human reporters is not hypothetical; it is immediate and tangible. Machines lack intuition, moral judgment, and the ability to read between the lines. They cannot adjust tone to convey urgency, nuance, or empathy. They cannot interview sources in ways that build trust, challenge authority, or uncover truths hidden beneath layers of bureaucracy. They cannot, in short, report with the credibility and humanity that audiences deserve.

Globally, respected outlets -BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Reuters- have integrated AI as a supporting tool, never as a replacement for journalists. These organizations recognize that technology can enhance reporting but cannot supplant it. Audiences respond to human storytellers because humans bring context, understanding, and accountability. Replacing journalists with algorithms risks turning news into sterile, impersonal content, and diminishes public trust at a time when credible information is most needed.

There is also a deeper concern for the next generation of journalists. Broadcast journalism curricula are carefully designed to teach ethics, storytelling, and professional judgment. By sidelining practitioners in favor of AI, media organizations risk creating a generation of journalists for whom the craft is theoretical rather than practical; a generation unprepared to navigate the moral and practical complexities of reporting.

Beyond education, this trend threatens the very ethos of journalism. Reporting is not merely about speed or efficiency; it is about truth, accountability, and service to the public. Lazy shortcuts erode these principles. The allure of AI must not blind us to the foundational role that human reporters play in democracy and civil society.

Using AI responsibly is innovation. Using it to replace reporters is laziness disguised as progress. The stations involved in this cheap practice must ask itself: are we committed to serving the public with integrity, or are we willing to cheapen our journalism for convenience?

Reporting is human. Let us ensure it remains so.

Babs Daramola is a Lagos-based broadcast journalist with over 35 years of experience on radio and TV.