Media
THE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, in partnership with Chevron Nigeria Limited, on Tuesday trained journalists on data accuracy and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in energy reporting.
The training, held in Abuja, was part of the 2026 Chevron Media Capacity Building Programme for Energy Correspondents and had as its theme: “Strengthening Energy Journalism Through Knowledge, Data Accuracy and Artificial Intelligence.”
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Ms Grace Ike, called for a new approach to energy journalism, urging reporters to move beyond event-driven coverage and embrace data, accuracy, context and emerging technologies.
Ike said such an approach would deepen public understanding of Nigeria’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, noting that the media had a critical role in shaping public discourse around the sector.
According to her, quality journalism can influence policy decisions, public trust, investment flows and outcomes in host communities.
She said energy journalists now operated within a complex ecosystem involving government, businesses, technical experts, investors and citizens, making it imperative for them to strengthen their understanding of the industry.
“This reality requires journalists covering the sector to sharpen their understanding of the industry and report developments with greater accuracy, context and credibility.
“The energy sector is technical, rapidly evolving and global in reach. To report it well, we must deepen our understanding of markets, infrastructure, financing and regulation.
“That means continuous learning: mastering concepts from grid operations to gas monetisation, reading policy texts and cultivating relationships with credible experts.”
Ike described the training as an investment in accuracy, context and credibility, saying it would enable journalists to explain the implications of energy developments for jobs, prices, communities and climate goals.
“Data accuracy is our compass. In an era of abundant numbers and competing claims, credible data separates sound reporting from speculation,” she said.
She urged journalists to verify figures and develop the tools and habits required to cross-check official statistics, company disclosures and independent datasets.
“Where numbers are unclear, we must say so and show our readers why clarity matters.
“Accurate data reporting helps hold corporations and governments accountable, protects communities from misinformation and builds public confidence in our profession,” she said.
On artificial intelligence, Ike described AI as a valuable tool rather than a replacement for professional judgment.
“Artificial intelligence is our new tool, not a replacement for our judgment, but a force multiplier when used with discernment. AI can rapidly analyse large datasets, identify trends, transcribe interviews and surface documents.
“But it can also amplify bias, invent false facts or mask context if used uncritically. Our duty is to pair AI’s speed with rigorous verification, editorial judgment and ethical standards.”
She urged journalists to learn how to use AI effectively while remaining transparent about its limitations and ensuring all outputs were verified against primary sources.
The Manager, Communications, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr Victor Anyaegbudike, said the programme reflected the company’s strategic investment in journalism training and capacity development.
Anyaegbudike said the initiative evolved from a pilot programme in Lagos conducted in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University, which trained about 140 journalists.
According to him, the programme has since been expanded to Lagos, Delta, Abuja and other parts of the country in collaboration with NUJ councils and energy correspondents’ associations.
“As we are finishing in 2026, we must have trained about 400 to 500 journalists that have participated in this programme in the last three years,” he said.
He described the training theme as timely, noting that both data accuracy and AI had become indispensable tools in modern journalism.
“In this era of AI, we cannot do without talking about it because it has come to stay. So the training is for journalists to understand the use of AI in news reporting.
“The world is looking for data accuracy. The world is looking for artificial intelligence. How can I make my work easier?” he said.
Anyaegbudike also highlighted Chevron’s contributions to Nigeria’s economic development through its investments and operations.
Delivering a presentation on Data Accuracy in Energy Journalism, Deputy Bureau Chief of The Guardian, Mr Kingsley Jeremiah, said the increasing complexity of Nigeria’s oil, gas and power sectors had made data interpretation an essential skill for energy reporters.
He warned that journalists who publish figures without understanding their sources, methodology or context risked misleading the public and distorting developments in the industry.
According to Jeremiah, the first responsibility of an energy journalist is to establish exactly what a figure represents before reporting it.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Mr Amos Duniya, who presented a paper on Artificial Intelligence in the Newsroom, said AI had become a dominant force in global information management.
Duniya said that while AI could provide detailed information and improve efficiency, it could also be misused through manipulation, misinformation and the dissemination of doctored content.
He said AI helped journalists saved time and improved productivity in their daily work.
“However, as practitioners in the contemporary new world information order, we must apply the usage of AI responsibly by ensuring that information gathered are verified and cross-checked.
“Be they statements, stories, pictures, voices, videos and, to a large extent, dates that events took place,” he said.(NAN)
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Tags: Chevron journalists NUJ