The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, will chair the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), scheduled to take place in Enugu on 24 and 25 September.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) said former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, would deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony on the first day of the conference, which begins at 2pm.
The conference will be held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, under the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive”, with “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election” as its sub-theme.
In a statement on Monday, NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh said the conference would focus on the role of the media in strengthening democracy and addressing emerging threats to credible elections.
Prof Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, will speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability”, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah will also address participants on the first day.
The day’s programme will conclude with a joint presentation by ThisDay Ombudsman and Public Protector, Kayode Komolafe, and veteran journalist and civil rights campaigner, Owei Lakemfa.
Their presentation, titled “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists”, will examine the challenges journalists face when covering terrorism and insecurity.
Speakers for Second Day
The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, will open the second day’s sessions with a 9am presentation on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts”.
Prof Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, will speak on “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance”.
The conference will also feature a presentation by Dr Richard Okoye, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save a Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing”.
Prof Farooq Kperogi, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, will address the conference’s sub-theme on artificial intelligence and election disinformation.
An Executive Session is scheduled for 12.30pm on the second day, providing editors with an opportunity to engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies on issues of national importance.
The annual conference, the flagship gathering of the NGE, is expected to attract more than 500 editors from across Nigeria, alongside other distinguished guests.
According to the Guild, the event is particularly significant as it comes ahead of the 2027 general election and will provide an opportunity for media leaders and other stakeholders to examine challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy.
The NGE said discussions would focus on ways to strengthen democratic governance, promote national development and advance nation-building through responsible and responsive journalism.
The Guild added that the conference would enable media leaders to examine the role of journalism in safeguarding credible elections, restoring public trust and protecting democratic values amid emerging political, technological and social challenges.
