By Ayomide Otitoju
Polaris Bank Limited says it has trained more than 6,200 journalists through its Annual Media Capacity Seminar over the past 12 years, reaffirming its commitment to promoting ethical journalism and equipping media professionals with skills to navigate the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI).
The bank disclosed this after hosting the 12th edition of the seminar, themed “Rebuilding Trust and Reinventing Storytelling in the Age of AI.” The virtual event, held via Microsoft Teams, attracted more than 650 journalists, editors, publishers, media executives and communication professionals from across Nigeria.
Speaking at the seminar, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Kayode Lawal, said trust remains the foundation of meaningful relationships between financial institutions, the media and the public.
Represented by the bank’s Head of Brand Management and Corporate Communication, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Lawal urged journalists to embrace emerging technologies without compromising ethical standards and credibility.
He said the seminar reflects the bank’s commitment to equipping media professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital environment while sustaining public confidence in responsible journalism.
According to him, Polaris Bank’s continued investment in media capacity development demonstrates its commitment to promoting knowledge, innovation, institutional excellence and national development through strategic partnerships.
Lawal noted that for more than a decade, the initiative has supported the development of a professional and well-equipped media, describing journalists as custodians of facts, shapers of public discourse and critical partners in nation-building.
He added that while artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities for the media industry, it also places greater responsibility on journalists to uphold editorial integrity, preserve public trust and maintain the highest standards of ethical reporting.
Lawal reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s information ecosystem by investing in media capacity development and promoting digital competencies among journalists.
The seminar featured presentations by Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika of the University of Lagos, who spoke on “The Trust Economy: Strengthening Credibility Across Media and Financial Institutions,” and Chairman of Proshare, Olufemi Awoyemi, who delivered a paper titled “AI in Newsrooms: Opportunities for Smarter Storytelling and Faster Reporting.”
The speakers examined the growing impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, highlighting the need for media organisations to safeguard editorial integrity, combat misinformation and strengthen public confidence through responsible reporting.
Participants also explored practical ways of leveraging AI to improve news gathering and storytelling while maintaining accuracy, fairness and professional ethics.
Polaris Bank thanked the more than 650 journalists and media professionals who participated in the seminar and encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained to promote accurate, ethical and impactful journalism.
The bank said its Annual Media Capacity Seminar has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading private-sector media development initiatives, fostering collaboration between the financial services industry and the media while advancing professionalism, innovation and ethical journalism.
