Lagos, Nigeria — ELOH Consulting Limited, a leading provider of executive education and capacity-building solutions, has successfully delivered the 2026 edition of the Seplat Energy Media Training Programme, designed to strengthen leadership capabilities and enhance the effective use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) among journalists.
The annual programme, sponsored by Seplat Energy Plc, brings together selected journalists from leading media organisations across Lagos and Abuja. The 2026 edition, themed “Leadership and AI Integration,” was designed to equip media professionals with practical leadership, strategic management and AI skills to enhance their effectiveness in the newsroom and prepare them for the rapidly evolving future of work.
Building on previous editions that placed strong emphasis on professional development and entrepreneurship, this year's programme combined leadership development with practical applications of AI in journalism.
Across the training sessions, participants engaged with experienced facilitators and industry experts on self-leadership, courageous leadership, entrepreneurship, AI applications in journalism and responsible AI adoption.
Opening Ceremony
The programme opened with a welcome address by Mrs Opeyemi Oteri, Partner, ELOH Consulting Limited, who encouraged participants to actively engage throughout the programme and make the most of the learning experience. She also outlined key housekeeping guidelines designed to promote effective participation and maximise the benefits of the training.
Also speaking at the opening was Mr Dan Aibangbe, Media and Public Relations Consultant to Seplat Energy Plc. He reflected on the progress of previous editions of the media training programme, noting their contribution to professional development and entrepreneurship within the media industry.
Mr Aibangbe explained that the 2026 edition represented a strategic expansion of the programme, with a focus on Leadership and AI Integration to provide journalists with relevant managerial capabilities and practical AI tools for today's changing media environment.
He reaffirmed Seplat Energy's commitment to supporting the professional development of its media partners and encouraged participants to uphold excellence, collaboration and professionalism in their work.
Day One: Building Stronger Leadership Foundations
The first day focused on leadership development, with five sessions exploring personal effectiveness, courage, entrepreneurship and strategic execution.
Dr Solomon Avbioroko facilitated the opening sessions, using DISC assessments, case studies and practical leadership concepts to help participants better understand their individual strengths, behaviours and leadership approaches.
His sessions explored concepts including leading from the front, leading from behind and leading from within, while emphasising the importance of self-awareness, resilience, reflection and self-efficacy in achieving sustainable professional success.
Veteran journalist Mr Patrick Oke brought practical industry experience to the programme, sharing insights from his career and highlighting the importance of courage, adaptability and effective change management in overcoming professional challenges.
The final two sessions, facilitated by Olu Onakoya, focused on entrepreneurship and the journey from vision to execution. Participants examined the realities of translating ideas into sustainable outcomes, with discussions covering strategy alignment, compliance, financial management and effective decision-making.
Day Two: Harnessing AI for Journalism
The second day shifted the focus to the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in the media industry, with three sessions examining practical AI applications, emerging industry trends and responsible AI adoption.
Mr Nnamdi Uwaemelulam introduced participants to AI tools and applications relevant to modern newsrooms, including generative AI, trend monitoring and prompt engineering.
A key highlight was his practical six-part prompting framework — Role, Task, Context, Format, Rules and Example — designed to help journalists communicate more effectively with AI tools and obtain more useful outputs.
Professor Bongo Adi examined the disruptive impact of AI on oil and gas microeconomics and its implications for media professionals covering the sector. He also shared recommendations on relevant AI tools and technology specifications that could support content development and productivity.
The final session was facilitated by Barrister Uloma Okoro, who addressed the critical issue of responsible AI use in journalism. She emphasised the continued importance of human oversight, accuracy and evidence-based reporting, encouraging journalists to view AI as a supportive, labour-saving tool rather than a replacement for professional judgement.
Positive Participant Feedback
Participants responded positively to the training, highlighting the relevance of the theme, the quality and experience of the facilitators, the practical AI sessions and the interactive leadership activities.
The programme also provided an opportunity for journalists to reflect on emerging challenges within the media industry while exploring practical approaches to improving productivity, leadership effectiveness and professional resilience.
Participants particularly appreciated the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge of AI tools that can be integrated into their daily work, alongside leadership principles applicable to their professional and personal development.
Strengthening Media Capacity Through Strategic Partnerships
The 2026 training further demonstrates the value of sustained investment in media capacity development and stakeholder engagement.
Through its partnership with ELOH Consulting, Seplat Energy continues to provide journalists with opportunities to develop relevant skills for an increasingly complex media and business environment. The programme also strengthens engagement between Seplat Energy and journalists covering key sectors, including energy, capital markets and the judiciary.
The combination of leadership development and AI education reflects the changing demands of the media profession and the growing need for journalists to combine sound professional judgement with emerging technologies.
Looking Ahead
The success of the 2026 programme provides opportunities for further development of the initiative. Future editions could incorporate structured participant feedback surveys, digital learning follow-ups, certification opportunities and specialised modules addressing areas such as crisis communication, energy transition reporting and emerging technologies in journalism.
Such initiatives would further strengthen the long-term value of media capacity-building programmes while providing participants with continued opportunities for professional growth.
2026 Training Runs
The 2026 Seplat Energy Media Training Programme was delivered across multiple locations:
- Lagos – First Run: 20–21 April 2026
- Lagos – Second Run: 6–7 May 2026
- Abuja: 12–13 May 2026
- Owerri: 20–21 July 2026
The additional Owerri edition further extended the reach of the programme, providing journalists in the region with access to the same leadership and AI-focused capacity-building opportunities.
Conclusion
The 2026 Seplat Energy Media Leadership and AI Training brought together two critical areas of professional development — effective leadership and emerging technology.
Through the programme, ELOH Consulting Limited delivered a practical learning experience designed to help journalists become more effective professionals, strategic thinkers and responsible users of AI.
The initiative also reflects the importance of sustained collaboration between organizations and the media in building a more knowledgeable, adaptable and future-ready professional community.
