The 2025 West Africa Broadcasting Convention kicked off with a keynote from Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), who called on African media leaders to embrace AI responsibly, with strong ethical safeguards and localized storytelling at the core.

Speaking to an audience of media executives, tech leaders, and policymakers in Lagos, Ndace emphasized that AI is transforming broadcasting globally—but warned that its adoption in Africa must be grounded in authenticity, ethics, and cultural sovereignty.

“We must view AI not as a threat but as an enabler—albeit with caution… Africa’s media narrative must not be outsourced,” said Ndace.

He outlined how VON is already integrating AI for real-time translation, automated scheduling, editing, and audience analytics, marking its transition into a digital-first broadcaster.

Call for Ethical AI and Indigenous Narratives

Ndace urged the African media sector to develop policy frameworks to prevent AI misuse—especially around misinformation, bias, and cultural dilution. He stressed the importance of owning Africa’s narratives by leveraging AI to amplify indigenous voices.

“We must tell our stories with intelligence, authenticity, and integrity,” he said.

Industry Applause and Regional Collaboration

The keynote was praised by Broadcast Media Africa (BMA) CEO Benjamin Pius, who said Ndace’s message “captures the spirit” of the event: a technologically advanced but ethically grounded future for African broadcasting.

Pius also reaffirmed BMA’s commitment to fostering regional cooperation on AI adoption, regulation, and media innovation.

The two-day event convenes top stakeholders from across the continent, with themes spanning AI integration, content monetization, streaming innovation, and policy reform.