Journalists, technology experts, and auto industry leaders gathered in Lagos on October 10 for the 2025 Annual Training and Capacity Building Workshop of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA).
The event, themed “AI Automotive Reporting: Smart Cars, Smart Stories”, examined how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global mobility landscape and preparing Nigerian journalists for a rapidly evolving digital future.
NAJA Chairman, Mr. Theodore Opara, described the training as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, and industry collaboration. “AI is no longer a futuristic concept but an everyday reality transforming how cars are designed, built, and experienced and how stories about them are told”, Opara said.
“As auto journalists, we must evolve with this transformation by understanding not just the technology behind smart mobility, but also the ethics, accuracy, and depth required in reporting it”.
The workshop was hosted in partnership with Jetour Mobility Services, which reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation and growth in Nigeria’s automotive industry. Christiana Auta, representing Jetour, underscored the urgent need for journalists to embrace technological evolution. “AI is rapidly redefining industries and communication. Nigerian automotive journalists must key into this evolution to remain relevant and competitive globally”, she said.
“At Jetour, innovation sits at the heart of our brand philosophy. We proudly market a range of SUVs equipped with intelligent features that enhance both comfort and safety”.
Assistant News Editor at Vanguard Newspapers, Henry Ojelu, encouraged journalists to view AI as an enabler rather than a threat to their profession. “AI isn’t here to take jobs away — it’s here to make the job easier”, Ojelu noted. “Tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity AI can help reporters research, analyse data, and create content more efficiently. The key is using them to produce stories that are accurate, engaging, and credible”.
Head of Training at Tech 365, Wale Olajomoke, demonstrated real-time AI applications in data gathering, fact-checking, and multimedia storytelling. He emphasised that journalists who adopt such tools will stand out as authoritative voices in the auto and tech ecosystem.
The interactive workshop featured case studies on emerging automotive technologies, discussions on the ethics of AI-powered reporting, and sessions on integrating innovation into newsroom operations. Participants described the workshop as timely and transformative, saying it equipped them with practical skills and fresh perspectives on reporting the fast-evolving automotive industry.
Other industry leaders, including the General Manager, Business Development at Cedric Motors Limited, Eze Igwe, and the Head of Strategy, Business Development, and Marketing at R.T. Briscoe, Taiwo Omolayo, commended NAJA’s focus on AI-driven capacity building.
They pledged continued collaboration with the association to advance both the industry and the nation’s technological growth.