The 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is set to take place in Enugu, with Vice President Kashim Shettima declaring the event open on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The two-day conference, themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” will feature over 500 editors, government officials, academics, and civil society representatives. The event will focus on critical national and global issues with significant social, economic, and political implications.
The conference, scheduled to hold at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu, will address pressing issues such as democracy, elections, press freedom, and national development. Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, will also address the conference, which will provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions. The event will feature various speakers, including His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, who will chair the conference.
Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, will deliver the keynote address at the conference. Other notable speakers include Professor Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, who will speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.” The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, will address the editors on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.”
On the second day of the conference, respected journalist and public speaker, Mr Martins Oloja, and newspaper columnist and 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 the conference on “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance.”
The conference will also feature a presentation by Dr Richard Okoye, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing.” Additionally, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, Farooq A. Kperogi, will examine the conference sub-theme on artificial intelligence and disinformation.
The second day of the conference will feature an Executive Session, during which editors will engage governors, political party leaders, and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance. This session, scheduled to start at 12:30pm, aims to facilitate dialogue and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
The 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference is expected to provide a platform for editors and stakeholders to discuss critical issues affecting the country. With its theme and sub-theme, the conference will focus on the role of the media in keeping democracy alive and the challenges posed by AI-driven disinformation. Key points to be discussed include the importance of public trust in electoral justice, the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, and the need for professionalism and neutrality in election reporting.
Key points
- Over 500 editors to attend the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu.
- The conference will focus on democracy, elections, and AI-driven disinformation.
- Vice President Kashim Shettima to declare the event open on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
