The 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is set to take place in Enugu on September 24-25, 2026. Vice President Kashim Shettima will declare the conference open at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu, at 2pm on Thursday. The conference, the flagship annual gathering of the Guild, will focus on critical national and global issues with significant social, economic, and political implications.
The conference theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” will be addressed by Vice President Shettima, alongside the sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.” Shettima is also expected to speak on other issues relating to democracy, elections, press freedom, and national development. Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, will also address the conference.
The conference will feature a range of speakers, including His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, who will chair the conference, and former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who will deliver the keynote address. Other speakers include Professor Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, and Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
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.” Other speakers include Professor Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, and Dr Richard Okoye, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt.
The conference will also feature an Executive Session at 12:30pm on the second day, during which editors will engage governors, political party leaders, and heads of government agencies and parastatals on issues of national importance. The gathering will provide a platform for editors and other stakeholders to examine practical pathways for strengthening democratic governance and promoting national development.
According to the Guild, the conference will enable media leaders to interrogate the challenges confronting democracy and examine the role of the media in safeguarding credible elections, rebuilding public trust, and strengthening democratic values. The conference is expected to attract over 500 editors from across the country, alongside government officials, academics, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders.
Professor Farooq A. Kperogi, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, will examine the conference sub-theme on artificial intelligence and disinformation, focusing on the detection and debunking of false information before, during, and after elections. The conference aims to promote responsible and responsive journalism, ultimately contributing to nation-building and democratic growth.
Key points
- Vice President Kashim Shettima to declare open the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu on September 24, 2026.
- The conference will focus on critical national and global issues with significant social, economic, and political implications.
- Over 500 editors and stakeholders are expected to attend the conference, which aims to promote responsible and responsive journalism.
