WikkiTimes has unveiled 19 journalists selected for the Anas Aremeyaw Anas AI for Accountability (A3AIA) Fellowship, a programme designed to equip reporters with artificial intelligence tools to strengthen investigative journalism and promote transparency in Nigeria’s environmental and extractive sectors.
The fellows were introduced during a virtual onboarding session held on Friday, March 6, 2026, marking the formal commencement of the fellowship.
The session brought together the selected fellows, organisers and members of the WikkiTimes management team, who outlined the goals, structure and expectations of the programme.
Delivering the keynote address, renowned Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas described the fellowship as a timely initiative to strengthen accountability journalism in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
According to him, the programme represents a deliberate effort to equip journalists with modern investigative tools capable of exposing corruption and deepening public accountability.
“Today is not simply the beginning of a training programme. It is the beginning of a movement that recognises that in the age of artificial intelligence, the fight for accountability must evolve, adapt and grow stronger,” Mr Anas said.
Mr Anas, whose investigations have exposed corruption in several sectors, said corruption continues to undermine public institutions and deprive citizens of essential services across many African countries.
“Corruption steals medicine from hospitals, books from classrooms, justice from courtrooms and sometimes hope from entire generations,” he said, stressing the need for journalists to break the culture of silence that allows corruption to thrive.
Speaking on investigative methods, Mr Anas emphasised the role of undercover journalism in exposing wrongdoing in systems where conventional reporting often proves ineffective. He, however, cautioned that such methods must always be guided by integrity, public interest and professional accountability.
He added that the future of investigative journalism would increasingly depend on reporters who combine traditional reporting skills with digital and data expertise.
“The investigator of the future will not only carry hidden cameras; they will carry data skills. They will not only interview sources; they will analyse algorithms,” he said.
Mr Anas noted that artificial intelligence is already transforming investigative work by enabling journalists to analyse large volumes of documents, identify corruption patterns, track financial transactions and verify digital information more efficiently.
However, he warned that the same technology could also be misused to spread misinformation or fabricate evidence if not applied responsibly, stressing the need for ethical guidelines in the use of AI in journalism.
Also speaking, WikkiTimes Co-Publisher, Ajibola Amzat, commended Mr Anas for supporting the fellowship and expressed appreciation for his financial contribution and confidence in the initiative.
He urged the fellows to view the programme as an opportunity to strengthen their investigative skills while contributing to accountability journalism.
Mr Amzat said investigative reporting remains a critical tool in confronting corruption and governance failures, particularly amid growing concerns about environmental injustice in parts of northern Nigeria.
In her welcome remarks, the fellowship lead, Hafsah Muhammed Ibrahim, congratulated the fellows on their selection and encouraged them to take full advantage of the programme.
“Today marks the beginning of what we believe will be an exciting, engaging and transformative experience for all of you,” she said.
She described the fellowship as more than a training initiative, but a collaborative platform where journalists can exchange ideas, sharpen their investigative skills and produce impactful journalism.
“The A3AIA Fellowship is not just a training programme. It is a space for learning, collaboration and innovation where ideas can grow, skills can be sharpened and meaningful journalism can emerge,” she added.
The fellowship will expose participants to AI-powered investigative techniques, digital verification tools, ethical frameworks for AI in journalism, and strategies for uncovering corruption networks in the environmental and extractive sectors.
The selected fellows include Abdulwasiu Olokooba of Sahara Reporters, Shafa’atu Suleiman of The Whistler, Abdulaziz Mallam of ABC Yola, Abdulbasid Dantsoho, a freelance reporter, and Yemi Sodiq of Informant247.
Others are Ajifa Solomon of JoeyOffAir, Muhammad Maina Ali of Yerwa Express, Anibe Idajili of TechCityNG, Martha Asumata of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and Sani Musa Kumo of Progress Radio.
Also selected are Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim of Premier Radio, Abubakar Muhammad Usman of Media Trust, Salim Sani Shehu of CITAD Radio, Lukman Abdulmalik of The Whistler, and Babaji Usman of WikkiTimes.
The remaining fellows include Saidu Mohammed Lawan of Digital Dispatch Media Concept, Hamza Ibrahim Abaga, a freelance jounalist, David Arome of Development Reporting, and Mariya Suleiman of Premium Times.
The 19 fellows, drawn from different states across northern Nigeria, will also participate in mentorship sessions and practical reporting projects aimed at strengthening accountability journalism in the digital age.
