The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recognised the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) as one of the civil society organisations contributing to Nigeria’s artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
The recognition is contained in UNESCO’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report for Nigeria, which assesses the country’s preparedness for the development, adoption and governance of AI.
According to CJID Executive Director Akintunde Babatunde, UNESCO identified the organisation in two areas: AI literacy and inclusion, and public awareness and advocacy.
Under AI literacy and inclusion, the report lists CJID alongside CoDiCI among organisations working to promote access to, understanding of and participation in AI ecosystems. CJID was also recognised for its public awareness and advocacy efforts, particularly initiatives aimed at improving understanding of AI’s social implications and encouraging civic engagement through media and education.
Babatunde said the recognition followed several years of CJID’s work in AI, journalism and digital governance across Nigeria and Africa.
CJID is also part of the Nigeria AI Collective, where it coordinates a community of practice comprising more than 600 members from civil society, media and journalism, academia and research, technology and development, and students and emerging professionals.
In July, the organisation awarded AI advocacy grants to seven Nigerian civil society organisations. The beneficiaries were TechHer, Cedar Foundation for Disability, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Nest Africa AI Innovation Lab, Webfala Digital Skill for All Initiative, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), and Dataphyte Foundation.
The grants are intended to support advocacy projects focused on public understanding of AI, responsible technology adoption, digital inclusion, citizen engagement, information integrity, policy awareness and accountability in the development and deployment of AI systems.
Beyond advocacy, CJID said it has trained journalists, civil society actors, educators, university lecturers, teachers and students on AI and its implications for journalism and society.
The organisation has also developed five AI-enabled tools focused on areas including fact-checking, electoral transparency and disinformation. Its fact-checkers and fellows have also worked to debunk AI-generated and manipulated content.
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CJID’s AI work further includes an annual AI Reporting Fellowship and three AI and Media Summits, which bring together journalists, researchers, technology practitioners, policymakers and civil society representatives to examine the impact of AI on media and society.
In February 2026, CJID led a delegation of 10 Nigerian civil society and media organisations to the AI Impact Summit in India, expanding Nigerian participation in international discussions on AI development and governance.
The UNESCO assessment comes as Nigeria continues to develop its capacity for the responsible development, adoption and governance of artificial intelligence. The report’s recognition of CJID places the organisation among civil society actors contributing to AI literacy, public awareness and broader participation in the country’s emerging AI ecosystem.
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