Lagos urged to lead national orientation on social media and AI
The Lagos State Government has been called to set the pace for digital literacy and responsible AI use across Nigeria. The appeal was directed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, during the Bodex Social Media Hangout (BSMH) - a cross-sector gathering of media professionals, creators, and innovators focused on positive use of digital platforms.
The message is clear: public institutions, platforms, and brands need a shared playbook for social media and AI - how content is created, labeled, governed, and audited. PR and communications teams sit at the center of that effort.
Event snapshot
Theme: "Social Media and A.I Influence: Transforming Yourself, Services and the Society." Dates: 21-23 November 2025. Venues: University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Hosts include Seyi Law, Ajebo Comedian, Ify Onyegbule, and Denrele Edun. Speakers feature Prof. Oloruntola Sunday (Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, UNILAG), Bimbo Akintola (Nollywood), and Kayode Akintemi (MD, News Central TV), among others.
According to convener Bodex Hungbo, the event will honor guests who have advanced digital literacy and responsible communication. The program celebrates creators who combine creativity with accountability and use social platforms and AI to drive social good.
Why this matters for PR and communications
Government-led orientation can set a national standard for disclosure, safety, and credible information. For PR leaders, this is a chance to align policy, practice, and training - and earn public trust through visible accountability.
What PR teams should prepare before the event
- Update your content policy for AI use. Define when AI can be used, what must be disclosed, and how to label AI-generated text, images, and audio. Include approval workflows and audit trails.
- Train your spokespeople and social teams. Short modules on prompt discipline, fact-checking, bias risks, and disclosure norms will raise your floor. For structured learning by role, see AI courses by job.
- Run deepfake and misinformation drills. Build playbooks for synthetic audio/video incidents, including verification steps, takedown requests, and rapid-response messaging.
- Tighten data protection practices. Ensure consent and legal basis for data used in AI tools. Review Nigeria's data protection guidance via the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
- Adopt clear labeling standards. Use consistent tags or captions for AI-assisted content across channels. Document your rationale so partners can follow it.
- Score your tools. Before adopting any AI solution, evaluate for safety, auditability, bias testing, localization for Nigeria, and vendor support.
- Agree on measurement. Track digital literacy reach, misinformation response time, community sentiment, and policy compliance rates.
How agencies and brands can plug into BSMH 2025
- Offer a clinic on AI disclosure, creator guidelines, or crisis verification.
- Co-create a simple, public checklist for responsible creator-brand collaborations.
- Host live demos on authenticity checks: provenance tools, watermark detection, and verification workflows.
- Publish your AI content policy and invite feedback from academics, journalists, and creators.
Key details
- Dates: 21-23 November 2025
- Locations: University of Lagos (UNILAG); Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos
- Organiser: Bodex Social Media Hangout (BSMH)
- Focus: Social media and AI influence, digital literacy, and responsible communication
The ask to Lagos is timely: set clear guidance, enable wide-scale training, and rally public-private partners. If PR takes the lead on standards and transparency, audiences will reward the brands and institutions that communicate with clarity and care.
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