“AI Crucial To Nation Building, Security Intelligence” — Ray Nkemdirim Tells Media Practitioners | VIDEO

A security and intelligence expert, Chief Ray Nkemdirim, has emphasised the critical role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in nation-building, intelligence gathering, and modern security operations, urging media professionals to embrace responsible journalism and leverage emerging technologies to promote national development.

Nkemdirim spoke as a guest lecturer at the 13th Edition of the Vision Africa Media Institute Training 2026, held at the Vision Africa premises in Umuahia, Abia State. The training, themed “Inspiring Nations, Organisations and People Through Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” brought together media practitioners and communication professionals from across Nigeria.

Delivering a lecture titled “The Place of AI in Nation Building and Intelligence Gathering,” Nkemdirim warned against the growing trend of misinformation and sensational content circulating on social media, which he said often fuels fear, panic, and social instability.

According to him, terrorism thrives on creating fear among the populace, and irresponsible dissemination of unverified information by content creators and some media platforms often amplifies such fears.

“A lot of the reactions we are getting today are as a result of what is being dished out to the public. Things happen, content creators turn them into other things, send them out to the public and create undue panic. Terrorism is all about creating panic and fear, and unfortunately, the media is increasingly providing a platform that heightens such tensions,” he said.

He cited recent incidents involving kidnapped students and teachers, noting that several disturbing videos circulated online later turned out to be false. Yet, they had already succeeded in generating widespread anxiety.

Nkemdirim urged journalists and media professionals to resist the temptation of spreading unverified information and instead uphold ethical standards that promote social stability and public trust.

Speaking on Artificial Intelligence, the intelligence expert described AI as a transformative technology capable of processing vast amounts of information within seconds, making it an indispensable tool in intelligence gathering, governance, economic development, and national security.

Drawing from his background in intelligence operations, he explained that traditional intelligence gathering involves stages such as direction, collection, processing, and dissemination, all of which can now be accelerated significantly through AI-powered systems.

“What AI can do for you is hasten all those processes. In a split second, you can access information, analyze data, and make informed decisions that would ordinarily take much longer,” he stated.

Nkemdirim noted that leading global powers, including the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, have embraced AI-driven systems to enhance governance, economic growth, and security operations.

He expressed concern over Africa’s slow pace in adopting advanced AI technologies, particularly in security management, arguing that Nigeria’s security challenges require more technological solutions rather than merely increasing personnel recruitment.

“For me, the real focus should be on enhancing our technological capability through satellite surveillance and drone acquisition. Why wait until people are kidnapped before responding, when technology can help detect threats before they occur?” he asked.

The security expert lamented Nigeria’s reactive approach to security management, stressing that AI-powered surveillance systems could significantly improve proactive threat detection and prevention.

Using Turkey’s border security model as an example, he revealed that discussions held years ago on deploying advanced technological solutions for border management were largely abandoned due to cost implications, despite their long-term benefits.

On nation building, Nkemdirim described good governance, economic prosperity, social cohesion, and national unity as essential pillars of a thriving society. He commended the developmental strides being witnessed in Abia State, describing them as examples of good governance that contribute to nation building.

He further explained that intelligence goes beyond mere information gathering, emphasizing the importance of verification, evaluation, and analysis before concluding.

“Information is not intelligence. Intelligence comes from properly evaluating information, analyzing it, and putting different pieces together to establish facts. Without that process, it remains mere information or even rumour,” he said.

The guest speaker also highlighted various forms of intelligence collection, including Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Technical Intelligence (TECHINT), Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), and Cyber Intelligence, stressing the need for Nigeria to strengthen its capabilities in these areas.

While praising the benefits of AI, Nkemdirim cautioned against over-reliance on technology without adequate human oversight. He warned that unethical use of AI could lead to privacy violations, misuse of sensitive information, and accountability challenges.

“There must be proper human oversight. We should not rely on machines one hundred percent. Ethical considerations must guide the use of AI to prevent abuse and protect public trust,” he said.

He concluded that the future of effective nation building and intelligence gathering would belong not merely to nations with the most advanced AI systems, but to those capable of combining technological innovation with strong ethical standards and public confidence.

“The nations that will succeed are not necessarily those with the best AI, but those that combine strong ethics and public trust in the usage of AI,” Nkemdirim stated.

The Vision Africa Media Institute Training is an annual capacity-building programme designed to equip media practitioners, communicators, and leaders with the skills and knowledge required to navigate emerging trends in media and communication.