The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), on Friday, been recognised by UNESCO 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 artificial intelligence.

In a statement, CJID Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, said the recognition underscores the organisation’s sustained commitment to strengthening AI literacy, responsible innovation and public engagement around emerging technologies.

In mapping civil society organisations working within Nigeria’s AI landscape, UNESCO identifies CJID under two key areas: AI Literacy and Inclusion, and Public Awareness and Advocacy.

Under AI Literacy & Inclusion, the report lists CJID alongside CoDiCI as organisations working to promote access, understanding and participation in AI ecosystems.

The recognition comes after several years of investment by CJID in artificial intelligence, journalism and digital governance across Nigeria and Africa.

CJID is part of the Nigeria AI Collective, where it coordinates a Community of Practice of more than 600 members drawn from civil society organisations, media and journalism, academia and research, technology and development, as well as students and emerging professionals.

In July, the organisation expanded the initiative by awarding AI advocacy grants to seven Nigerian civil society organisations, 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 support independent advocacy projects around areas including 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 the Collective, CJID has trained hundreds of journalists, civil society actors, educators, university lecturers, teachers and students on artificial intelligence and its implications for journalism and society.

Through its AI Campus Network, the organisation has also supported young people to develop practical AI skills. In 2025, CJID provided computers to students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to support their learning and experimentation with artificial intelligence, recognising that meaningful AI literacy also depends on access to the tools needed to learn and participate.

This work extends to media innovation. CJID has internally developed five AI-enabled tools addressing fact-checking, electoral transparency and disinformation, while its fact-checkers and fellows have debunked hundreds of AI-generated and manipulated pieces of content.

Its annual AI Reporting Fellowship has supported journalists to investigate and report on artificial intelligence and its impact across different sectors. CJID has also hosted three AI and Media Summits, bringing together journalists, researchers, technology practitioners, policymakers and civil society actors to examine how AI is reshaping media and society.

CJID has so far hosted three AI and Media Summits, bringing together journalists, researchers, technology practitioners, policymakers and civil society actors to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping media and society.

The organisation has also supported the publication of hundreds of reports, investigations and analyses on AI, emerging technologies, information integrity and their implications for African societies.

In February 2026, CJID led a delegation of 10 civil society and media organisations to the AI Impact Summit in India, expanding the participation of Nigerian media and civil society actors in global conversations around AI development and governance.

Beyond these interventions, CJID’s work increasingly engages questions around AI governance, platform accountability, information integrity, responsible adoption and the consequences of emerging technologies for journalism and democratic societies. The UNESCO assessment provides wider recognition of this work within Nigeria’s developing AI ecosystem.

The UNESCO recognition comes as CJID expands its work on AI beyond media training into technology development, research, digital literacy and policy engagement, with programmes targeting journalists, educators, students and civil society organisations across Nigeria and other African countries.