The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has restated its commitment to defending press freedom and promoting high standards of editorial leadership as the world marks World News Day 2025.
In a statement signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuohe Ukeh, the Guild emphasised that fact-based journalism remains the foundation of a healthy democracy.
The annual event, observed globally on September 28, highlights the role of journalism in providing accurate and reliable information to citizens.
The Guild saluted Nigerian and international journalists who continue to deliver truthful reporting despite harassment, intimidation, and attempts to restrict freedom of expression.
It warned against the misuse of repressive laws such as the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act to target media professionals, and urged the government to respect the Freedom of Information Act by making public information accessible.
“We will always stand firm to defend the rights of journalists, promote high ethical standards in our noble profession, and resist any move to harass or intimidate journalists,” the NGE said.
It also urged journalists to reject fake news, misinformation, and propaganda while upholding accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and truth.
ECOWAS Parliament Urged to Tackle AI-Driven Fake News
In a related development, media and ICT experts have called on the ECOWAS Parliament to establish a strategic agency dedicated to curbing the rising threat of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated fake news across West Africa.
The appeal was made at the close of the Parliament’s Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, where discussions centred on the sub-theme: “Disinformation and Misinformation in the Era of AI: Challenges for Governance in the ECOWAS Sub-region.”
Panelists warned that the growing “invasion of the social media space by unscrupulous actors” was fueling ethnic and religious tensions, destabilising communities, and threatening democratic governance in the region.
The call comes amid global concerns that unchecked AI manipulation could worsen misinformation, disrupt governance, and erode public trust if not swiftly addressed.
