‘How AI can drive smart stories in age of smart cars’

Automotive journalists have been charged to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a vital tool for modern automotive journalism. The call was made by experts and stakeholders at the 2025 Annual Training and Capacity Building Workshop of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) with the theme, “AI Automotive Reporting: Smart Cars, Smart Stories.” The programme examined […]

Automotive journalists have been charged to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a vital tool for modern automotive journalism.

The call was made by experts and stakeholders at the 2025 Annual Training and Capacity Building Workshop of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) with the theme, “AI Automotive Reporting: Smart Cars, Smart Stories.”

The programme examined how AI is reshaping the global mobility landscape — transforming how stories are researched, produced, and consumed — and preparing Nigerian journalists for a rapidly evolving digital future.

NAJA Chairman, Mr. Theodore Opara, described the training as more than an annual gathering, calling it a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, and industry collaboration in a fast-changing media and mobility environment.

“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.

The 2025 edition was hosted in partnership with Jetour Mobility Services, which reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation and growth in Nigeria’s automotive industry. Representing the company, Christiana Auta 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.

Assistant News Editor at Vanguard Newspapers, Henry Ojelu, charged 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, analyze data, and create content more efficiently. The key is using them to produce stories that are accurate, engaging, and credible.”

Another facilitator, Wale Olajumoke, Head of Training at Tech 365, demonstrated real-time AI applications in data gathering, fact-checking, and multimedia storytelling. He emphasized that journalists who adopt such tools will stand out as authoritative voices in the auto and tech ecosystem.