Shettima to Open Editors’ Confab in Enugu Thursday

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to declare open the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Enugu on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

The two-day flagship annual gathering of the Guild will hold at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu. Proceedings begin at 2pm on Thursday and continue on Friday, September 25.

In a statement signed by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild said Shettima would address editors and participants on the theme “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive” and the sub-theme “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.” He is also expected to speak on democracy, elections, press freedom and national development.

Enugu State Governor Dr Peter Mbah will also address the conference. More than 500 editors from across the country, along with government officials, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders, are expected to attend. Discussions will centre on critical national and global issues with far-reaching social, economic and political implications.

His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, will chair the conference. 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, on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability”; immediate past Nigerian Bar Association President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts”; and Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, Farooq A. Kperogi, who will examine the AI disinformation sub-theme.

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On the second day, former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Martins Oloja, and columnist-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 “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance,” while Dr Richard Okoye, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, will speak on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing.”

An Executive Session is scheduled for 12:30pm on Friday, during which editors will engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies on issues of national importance.

The Guild said the conference would provide a platform for editors and stakeholders to examine practical pathways for strengthening democratic governance, promoting national development and advancing nation-building through responsible journalism. It would also allow media leaders to interrogate challenges confronting democracy and the media’s role in safeguarding credible elections, rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic values.

The 22nd ANEC is supported by the Enugu State Government, UNESCO, Craneburg, NNPC, Zenith Bank, the Nigerian Communications Commission and others.

The announcement comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with the NGE recently raising concerns over harassment, intimidation and prosecution of journalists by security agencies and calling for a level playing field for all parties and candidates.