Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Thursday, September 24, declare open the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Enugu.
The two-day conference, the flagship annual gathering of the Guild, will take place at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu, from 2pm on Thursday and continue on Friday, September 25.
The conference is themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive”, with the sub-theme “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”
In a statement signed by the NGE President and General Secretary, Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, respectively, the Guild said Shettima would address editors and other participants on the conference themes, as well as issues relating to democracy, elections, press freedom and national development.
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, is also expected to address the conference.
More than 500 editors from across the country, alongside government officials, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders, are expected to attend the event, which will examine major national and global issues with social, economic and political implications.
The conference will be chaired by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, while former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, will deliver the keynote address.
Other speakers include Professor Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, who will speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability”.
The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, will address participants on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”
On the second day, journalist and former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja, and columnist and activist Owei Lakemfa will speak on “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Professor Chinyere Okunna, will address the conference on “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance”, while the Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, Dr Richard Okoye, will speak on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing.”
Professor Farooq A. Kperogi, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, will lead discussions on artificial intelligence and disinformation, with a focus on detecting and debunking false information before, during and after elections.
The second day will also feature an executive session at 12:30pm, during which editors will engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance.
According to the Guild, the conference is expected to provide a platform for editors and other stakeholders to examine practical ways of strengthening democratic governance, promoting national development and advancing nation-building through responsible journalism.
The NGE said the gathering would also enable media leaders to examine challenges confronting democracy and the role of the media in safeguarding credible elections, rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic values.
The 2026 ANEC is supported by the Enugu State Government, UNESCO, Craneburg, NNPC, Zenith Bank, NCC and other partners.
