ACOE 2026 Annual Lecture, Awards to Focus on AI, Electoral Security, Humanitarian Service
Oru Leonard
The Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) has announced a three-day programme of activities for its 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards, featuring physical fitness, humanitarian outreach, professional development and discussions on electoral security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chux Ukwuatu, said the programme was designed to provide opportunities for engagement, knowledge sharing, networking and recognition of outstanding contributions to society and the media industry.
According to him, the first day of the anniversary will focus on physical fitness and humanitarian service.
He said members of the association would participate in a fitness exercise, stressing that the physical and mental wellbeing of journalists was essential to effective service to society.
The fitness activity will be followed by humanitarian visits to motherless homes, where members are expected to provide support and assistance to vulnerable children.
Ukwuatu said the initiative reflected ACOE’s belief that journalism goes beyond reporting society’s problems to also identifying with vulnerable communities and contributing to positive change.
The second day will be devoted to professional development and the welfare of members, with emphasis on the changing digital media environment and the rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The association will organise an on-the-job professional training seminar on ethical digital journalism in the age of AI, alongside other areas relevant to contemporary media practice.
The training is aimed at equipping online editors and journalists with the knowledge and skills required to harness AI while maintaining the core principles of journalism, including accuracy, verification, fairness, accountability and ethics.
Ukwuatu noted that while AI presents significant opportunities for journalism, it also raises concerns over misinformation, deepfakes, fabricated content, copyright violations, manipulation and declining public trust.
He said journalists must therefore ensure that technology supports journalism rather than replacing professional judgement and ethical responsibility.
The theme of the training seminar is “What the AI Will Not Do.”
The third day will feature the 2nd Annual Lecture and Awards of ACOE and serve as the climax of the anniversary programme.
The event is scheduled to hold at the Army Resources Centre, a venue the organisers said offers adequate security, space and parking facilities for participants.
The organisers expect close to 100 participants across the three-day programme.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been selected as keynote speaker for the annual lecture.
The keynote address will focus on “Roadmap to 2027: Strengthening Electoral Security Through Collaboration Among INEC, the Media, and Political Parties for Credible and Hitch-Free Elections.”
The public lecture is expected to attract ministers, senior government officials, politicians, media practitioners and representatives of the informal sector, among other invited dignitaries.
Ukwuatu said the organising committee was working to ensure that the 2026 ACOE Annual Lecture and Awards delivers a professionally organised programme that builds on previous editions.
He said the event which hold on November 19, 2026, would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the future of journalism, the responsible use of emerging technologies and the role of the media in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of 2027.
