The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping industries worldwide, and journalism is no exception. But rather than signalling the end of the profession, experts say AI presents an opportunity for journalists willing to adapt, while also raising urgent questions about credibility, misinformation and ethical newsroom practices.

These issues came to the fore at the Leadway Group Journalism Training in Lagos, where media professionals, insurance executives and technology experts examined the future of journalism, insurance and healthcare in an increasingly digital world.

Leading the conversation on artificial intelligence was Dr. Monday Ashibogwu, group chief executive officer, Billsbox Services Limited, who urged journalists to embrace AI as a tool for enhancing productivity rather than viewing it as a threat.

According to him, the real risk is not artificial intelligence itself, but the failure of professionals to understand and utilise it effectively.

“While integrating Artificial Intelligence into newsroom operations, we must use AI responsibly in content creation and develop an AI strategy for sustainable publishing,” Ashibogwu said.

He dismissed the notion that AI would replace journalists, arguing instead that those who understand and leverage the technology would gain a significant advantage over those who refuse to adapt.

“AI will not replace journalists. Journalists who use AI effectively will replace journalists who don’t,” he said.

However, Ashibogwu cautioned that the technology also carries significant risks. He warned that AI tools can generate inaccurate information, facilitate plagiarism and quote fabrication, and contribute to the spread of deepfakes, copyright violations and misinformation, all of which could erode public trust in the media if not carefully managed.

While journalists grapple with technological disruption, Leadway Group used the training to spotlight another industry facing its own transformation challenge: insurance.

The company argued that Nigeria’s insurance penetration problem is not necessarily the result of weak demand, but rather the industry’s inability to align its offerings with how consumers live, work and manage risk in a digital economy.

Speaking during the session, Adekunle Osuntuyi, Team Lead, Product Management at Leadway Assurance, said traditional insurance models built around physical branches, agents, lengthy onboarding processes and paperwork-heavy claims systems are increasingly disconnected from the expectations of modern consumers.

“The old model is no longer effective,” he said, pointing to the need for a digital-first approach across the insurance value chain.

For Osuntuyi, digital transformation extends far beyond launching mobile applications.

“Digital first isn’t an app. It’s three things: claims, distribution, and data + AI,” he said.

A central theme of the presentation was the importance of claims processing, which Leadway described as the ultimate test of trust in the insurance business.

“Everything else fails without this,” Osuntuyi stated, noting that customers are unlikely to buy into insurance products if they lack confidence that claims will be paid promptly and fairly when needed.

He argued that the future of insurance lies in systems that allow customers to submit claims independently, track progress in real time and benefit from automated processing for low-value claims.

Beyond claims management, Leadway highlighted the growing importance of data and artificial intelligence in underwriting, pricing, fraud detection and customer engagement.

According to the company, behavioural data, telematics and digital payment histories can provide insurers with deeper insights into customer needs, enabling them to develop more relevant and affordable products.

Despite significant opportunities created by growing smartphone adoption and improvements in digital payment infrastructure, the company acknowledged that several obstacles remain.

These include foreign exchange pressures, payment challenges and persistent distrust of insurance products among consumers.

“The industry hasn’t shown up in the channels, price points, and moments where risk decisions actually happen,” Osuntuyi said.

Leadway argued that the insurer capable of designing products around real customer needs, delivering faster claims experiences and building trust through digital engagement will ultimately define the future of the industry.

The conversation also extended beyond technology and insurance to broader public health challenges facing the country.

Oluwafemi Awoleye, team lead, commercial business at Leadway Health, called on journalists to pay greater attention to systemic healthcare issues, particularly the growing shortage of healthcare professionals and the continued migration of medical talent from Nigeria.

According to Awoleye, these challenges require sustained media attention because of their implications for both public health outcomes and national economic development.

He urged journalists to use their platforms to highlight barriers to healthcare access and stimulate conversations that can influence policy responses.

Awoleye also emphasised the critical role of the media as an agent of social change, noting that journalism remains one of the most powerful tools for shaping public discourse, informing policy decisions and strengthening evidence-based conversations around healthcare and other development issues.

Taken together, the discussions reflected a common theme across journalism, insurance and healthcare: institutions can no longer rely on traditional models in a rapidly changing environment.