By Suleiman Yakubu

A Digital Forensic Expert, Isa Ali, on Monday urged professional journalists to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be more effective on social media.
Musa gave the advice while speaking with journalists after a one-day training for Civil Society organisations (CSOs) and Journalists.
The training, which had the theme "Effective Cause of Social Media", was organised by Stallion Times Media in Conjunction with the MacArthur Foundation in Lokoja.
The forensic expert advised journalists to try as much as possible to be professional when using social media to distinguish themselves from novices.
Ali, who is a Research Scholar, stressed the need for professional journalists to learn artificial intelligence, especially as related to journalism.
He said that knowledge of AI would give them an edge on social media platforms.
According to him, the best way to be a professional journalist is to learn more about AI for social media, as it remains a major challenge.
"There is software you can use now to create a radio or television station as well as online newspapers.
"You will just set all the parameters, then go home and sleep, while the artificial intelligence through ‘operational intelligence algorithm’ will work on its own.
"It will broadcast news without anybody in the studio, and also write and publish news. This is going to be the key challenge for journalists," Ali said.
The research scholar emphasised the need for journalists to up their game, and learn all the new technologies related to their profession.
He noted that fake news was spreading fast on social media because professional journalists had been left behind when it came to generating news stories for circulation.
Ali called on Kogi journalists to take over the social media platforms and contents, by creating online presence on all platforms.
He urged the journalists to project and report any activity that would promote transparency and accountability in governance, particularly in Kogi.
"When there is a story and it comes from a source that is more genuine, it generates more traffic because the person that posted first would have more followers.
"So, journalists in Kogi have to stand on their feet and be the first line of breaking news in the state and even outside the state," Ali said.
The forensic expert made presentations on various topics, such as "The Basics of Social Media", "Social Media and Effective Content Development", Using Social Media to Build Relationships", and "How to Use Social Media to Tell Stories."
He urged professional journalists to utilise the training opportunity by publishing accurate, fair, and balanced stories to the satisfaction of the populace.
The scholar charged professional journalists with exhibiting a high moral code by maintaining transparency, attribution, fact-checking, and retracting or correcting stories found to be incorrect.
Earlier, Mr. Isiyaku Ahmed, the Project coordinator at Stallion Times, said the nexus between CSOs and journalism was advocacy.
He urged journalists and CSOs to collaborate and leverage social media's potential to achieve advocacy goals.
"As journalists, harnessing the power of social media is essential for researching a broader audience and staying connected with your readers.
"This training will equip participants with fundamental knowledge and skills to navigate the social media landscape," Ahmed said.

By Suleiman Yakubu

President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Abuja decorated the newly-appointed Service Chiefs with their new ranks at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, charging them to maintain teamwork to ensure peace and stability in the country. The Senate had previously confirmed their appointments before the ceremony.
The newly-inaugurated service chiefs are: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
Speaking at the occasion, the President emphasised the importance of maintaining teamwork, which he credited for the gains recorded so far in the security sector.
He commended the dedication, commitment, and steadfastness displayed by the Armed Forces, acknowledging their significant contributions to the nation’s peace and stability.
"We have seen that we are recording positive results in our security challenges because of your dedication, commitment, and steadfastness," Tinubu said. He assured the new Service Chiefs that the government was committed to supporting them in their responsibilities. The President underscored the value of virtues such as positive team thinking, unity, and selfless service to the nation, declaring that in spite of the current economic challenges, a better future awaits Nigeria.
He urged all members of the Armed Forces to view themselves as one single family, regardless of their diversity.
He also offered prayers for God’s blessings upon the Nigerian Armed Forces, wishing them peace, progress, and success in their endeavours to protect the country’s territorial integrity.
Tinubu emphasised the importance of honest service to the nation, which he said everyone in government, including the service chiefs, must embrace.
He added that he is working very hard to solve the current economic challenges being faced by Nigerians. "We are committed to serving you and not to ruling over you," the President said.
Speaking on behalf of the Service Chiefs, Gen. Musa expressed their unalloyed commitment to ensure the security and defence of the nation in their respective positions.
He also pledged to uphold, with the utmost dedication, the safety and well-being of the nation and its citizens. "Our appointment is a clear manifestation of the confidence reposed in us and recognition of our humble abilities to deliver for our dear nation. We pledge to carry out our duties with the utmost dedication and full loyalty.
"I assure Mr. President that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are 100 percent loyal to the government. We will go wherever we are ordered, whether by air, sea, or land. "We will ensure that Nigeria is projected in a good light. May God bless Nigeria and guide the Armed Forces in our efforts to guard our nation’s territorial integrity and ensure peace and security reign supreme," he said.
The event was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of Federation, Sen. George Akume, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribabu, senior government officials, members of the immediate families of the Service Chiefs, and other heads of security and intelligence agencies in the country.