Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
EMERITUS Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, is set to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), in Enugu.
The two-day conference is scheduled to open at the Enugu International Conference Centre on Thursday, 24 September, with more than 500 editors from across Nigeria and other distinguished guests expected to attend.
The annual gathering will focus on critical national and global issues with social, economic and political implications, particularly the role of the media in strengthening democracy ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The theme of this year’s conference is “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” while the sub-theme is “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”
The NGE disclosed this in a statement jointly signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh.
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, is also expected to address the conference, which will be chaired by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.
On the opening day, Prof Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, will speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.”
The Ombudsman and Public Protector of ThisDay Newspapers, Kayode Komolafe, and veteran journalist and civil rights campaigner, Owei Lakemfa, will also deliver a joint presentation titled “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”
The second day will feature a presentation by the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”
Prof Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, will speak on “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance.”
Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, Dr Richard Okoye, is scheduled to address the human and professional pressures associated with journalism in a session titled “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Well-being.”
Prof Farooq A. Kperogi, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, will examine the conference sub-theme on detecting and debunking artificial intelligence-generated disinformation before, during and after elections.
According to the NGE, editors will also engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government parastatals on major national issues during the conference.
The Guild said the annual event remained a platform for stakeholders to examine ways of advancing democratic governance, promoting national development and strengthening nation-building through responsible and responsive journalism.
It added that the 2026 conference would provide media executives with an opportunity to interrogate challenges confronting democracy and examine the role of the media in safeguarding credible elections, public trust and democratic values.
