NAMACOS AAUA Hosts 17th Annual Public Lecture

By Joseph Ruth & Eniola Amadu

The National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS) Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Chapter, held its 17th annual public lecture on Wednesday.

Media experts across Nigeria discussed the theme, "Media Innovations and AI Technologies: Understanding the Ethics and Future of Mass Communication."

Keynote speakers included Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan; Special Assistant to the Governor on Photography, Motunrayo Oyedele; Folashade Ogunride, an investigative journalist with Premium Times; Saheed Ibrahim of Centre for Storytelling and Development Initiative and Juliet Buna, a journalist at Crest FM Ibadan, among others.

Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan encouraged students to "embrace AI with sense" and use it to their advantage. 

Similarly, Motunrayo Oyedele advised students to view AI as a friend, citing its benefits in research, data analysis, and improved writing. 

Folashade Ogunride emphasised using AI to enhance media work, not replace journalists' work. 

Juliet Buna discussed AI's role in fact-checking, warning against misusing AI by copying its responses without adding a human touch. She encouraged students to learn how to manipulate AI, rather than relying solely on it, to avoid reducing their intellectual capacity.

The event concluded with cash prize awards presented to winners of the Shola Ilesanmi writing and debate competition, held in memory of the late icon.

Emmanuel Oluwadola emerged as the winner of the Essay Writing competition, while Adeniran Sunmisola and Odebisi Blessing Oluwaseun became the first and second runners-up, respectively.

In the Debate competition category, Adinnu Eberechukwu Jeremiah emerged as the winner, while Ahmed Mohammed Abiola and Oluwafemi Mercy Oluwabunmi bagged the first and second runner-up positions, respectively.

A cash prize of N50,000 was presented to the winners, while the first and second runners-up received N30,000 and N20,000, respectively.

In response to the speech of the Head of the Department, Dr Raphael Abimbola who informed the guests about the proposed new Faculty of Media and Communication Studies yet-to-be full-fledged, the Chief Press Secretary donated a sum of N1million in support of the proposed faculty and also donated a sum of N100,000 to the NAMACOS association.

Centre for Storytelling and Development Initiative founded by Saheed Ibrahim also donated N100,000 and raised another N57,000 from friends.