“Artificial intelligence has not merely knocked on journalism’s door, it has walked in, settled down, and is already reshaping the very foundations of how we create, distribute, and consume news.”
— Prof. Isiaka Aliagan
Prof. Isiaka Zubair Aliagan, the Dean Faculty of ICT, Kwara State University, Malete at Doyin Mahmoud 2025 Annual Lecture
By Time Nigeria
The University of Ilorin’s Department of Mass Communication hosted a gathering of intellectuals, policymakers, media professionals, and students on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, for the prestigious Doyin Mahmoud Annual Lecture, a tradition instituted in 2010 in honor of the pioneer Head of Department, the late Alhaji Doyin Mahmoud. Now in its fifteenth year, the lecture has grown into one of Nigeria’s most anticipated academic events within media and communication circles, spotlighting key issues shaping the media landscape.
This year’s edition, held at the Communication and Information Sciences Lecture Theatre, was a profound and timely discourse titled “Journalism in the Era of AI-Generated Content and Deep Fakes”, delivered by renowned media scholar and former editor of The Herald, Professor Isiaka Zubair Aliagan. The lecture served not just as a tribute to Mahmoud’s legacy but as a clarion call to action in the face of rapidly evolving digital threats that could upend the essence of journalism.
Aliagan, in a lecture as poignant as it was prophetic, took the audience on an intellectual journey that traced the transformation of journalism from the days of manual typesetting to today’s age of artificial intelligence, data algorithms, and synthetic media. Drawing from personal memories and professional intersections with the late Alhaji Doyin Mahmoud, he painted a heartfelt portrait of a pioneer whose commitment to journalistic ethics and training still resonates through the department’s mission.
The event was graced by some of the most respected voices in media, academia, and public service. The Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, Professor Lukuman Adeshina Azeez, and the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, were in attendance. The Commissioner for Communications, Mrs. Bolanle Olukoju, was represented by Dr. Fatimah Amuda, who also delivered a compelling keynote address.
Also present were the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Patrick Udende, who gave the opening remarks, and Professor Saudat Sallah Abdulbaqi, Head of Unilorin Television. Dr. Mahmud Abdul Abdulraheem, proprietor of Gerin FM Radio, was ably represented by Professor Razak Owolabi Abdukadir of the Faculty of Law. The presence of top functionaries including the Senior Special Assistant on Communication to the Kwara State Governor, Hon. Ibrahim Abdulateef, and a host of academic stalwarts such as Dr. Rasaq Muhammed Adisa, Dr. Abdulkadir Oba Laaro, Dr. Aisha Imam Omolosho, Dr. Fatimah Abubakre, and Dr. A.A. Saduaduden, further enriched the intellectual atmosphere.
Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Dr. Patrick Udende presenting a Award Plaque to Guest Lecturer, Prof Isiaka Aliagan, in appreciating his presence at the event.
Professor Aliagan’s lecture was a deep dive into one of the most daunting challenges modern journalism faces today: the infiltration of AI-generated content and deepfakes into public discourse. He noted that while artificial intelligence has unlocked immense potential for productivity, translation, data analysis, and audience engagement, it also poses a serious threat to journalistic integrity, public trust, and even democracy itself.
“Artificial intelligence has not merely knocked on journalism’s door,” he warned. “It has walked in, settled down, and is already reshaping the very foundations of how we create, distribute, and consume news.”
Citing a wide array of real-life global examples—from fake Pentagon explosion photos that briefly shook the U.S. stock market, to a deepfake of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urging surrender, and AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Biden—Aliagan demonstrated how easy it has become to distort reality. He further pointed to disturbing trends in Nigeria where cloned voices of politicians and religious figures are used to spread falsehoods.
“This is not science fiction. This is the world we are living in. A world where the truth must now compete with synthetic lies that sound, look, and feel real,” he stated with emphasis.
The professor’s lecture didn’t stop at identifying the problem; it outlined a multi-faceted roadmap for action. He advocated for redefined editorial standards that integrate both human and technological verification processes, technological investment in detection tools and AI literacy for journalists, curriculum overhaul in universities to reflect the digital realities of modern journalism and public education to help citizens critically evaluate information in an age where visuals can no longer be trusted by default, collaborative international efforts including legal and ethical frameworks to guide responsible AI use.
He particularly lamented the missed opportunity during the recent review of Nigeria’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), which failed to integrate AI training into mass communication education, urging departments to act independently and urgently.
In their goodwill messages, Professor Azeez and Dr. Olohungbebe hailed the lecture as not just timely but essential for rebuilding trust in journalism. Professor Azeez remarked that “we are fortunate to have someone of Professor Aliagan’s caliber reflect on issues that transcend national boundaries but affect our local realities.” Dr. Olohungbebe emphasized the role of education in shaping media’s future and commended the department for sustaining the legacy of Alhaji Doyin Mahmoud.
Students under the Association of Mass Communication Students (AMCOS) were visibly engaged and inspired, many expressing renewed commitment to their future profession amid the evolving media terrain. The AMCOS Staff Adviser and other lecturers in attendance commended the organizers for a successful event.
As the Doyin Mahmoud Lecture continues to grow in impact and relevance, this year’s edition underscored the department’s enduring commitment to media excellence, critical thinking, and ethical journalism.
Professor Aliagan concluded his lecture with a rousing call: “The future of truth itself may well depend on the choices we make today. Let us choose wisely, act courageously, and work together to ensure journalism continues to serve as democracy’s essential watchdog.”
In a world increasingly flooded with misinformation, such voices and platforms may be the last bulwark defending society’s grasp on reality.
