AdminSpecial academic festivities will unveil mid-week at the Mass Communication Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), from April 17-19, 2024.
The academic feast is a two-legged event involving a customary Jackson Annual Lecture (JAL) and an international conference. The first day of the event is on April 17, featuring the annual lecture to be delivered by a public relations sensation, Victor Anyaegbudike, Manager Communications, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited. The PR expert will speak on the topic: Corporate Organisations, Public Relations and Crisis Management.
On the second day (April 18), the international conference will set off with the theme: Artificial Intelligence, Communication and Knowledge Economy in the 21st Century. Nigeria’s foremost media and communication icon, Professor Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, will present the keynote address.
The lead paper will be presented by journalism ace, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, CEO of Newstide Publications, publishers of Prime Business Africa. The international conference, a hybrid event, will feature in-person and virtual sessions from expert contributors and syndicate panels for the presentation of about 200 papers.
Speaking about the event, the Head, Department of Mass Communication, UNN, Professor Joseph Wogu, said it was an auspicious time to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) as the newest stage in the disruptive and revolutionary consequences of new technology.
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Professor Wogu expressed his delight at the support of the university administration led by Professor Charles Igwe (FAS), who, he said, will declare the event open. The chair, local organizing committee, Professor Michael Ukonu, said his team put in a lot of work to assure an epochal event.
Commenting on the theme of the conference, Professor Ukonu noted that artificial intelligence is experiencing a boom, yet there are fears and pervasive international politics. He explained that the technology is growing quickly, so Africa needs not slumber or remain misguided users of artificial intelligence.
He also stressed the need for the field of media and communication to take its rightful place in global discussion on AI. In his words, “there must be early guidance about the political will to acquire the right technology, address risks, data privacy, trust in digital productions, quality education, and fears of professions like journalism and all of the creative arts as well as training and responsible use of artificial intelligence.” He said the conference will not only look at risks of AI, but also on opportunities, solutions and the pathways to regulatory frameworks for responsible use.
The international conference is expecting over 2,000 participants, from within and outside the country. When asked if there had been any challenges in organizing the lecture series/conference, Prof. Ukonu noted that rather than challenges, the team had an exciting opportunity to coordinate a hugely demanding planning process, giving the prospective participants a great hope of an upcoming intellectual banquet.
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