NECCI PR Roundtable to Examine Algorithmic Influence, AI, Information Integrity and Democratic Discourse in Nigeria

The 26th edition of the NECCI PR Roundtable will bring together leading voices from government, business, technology, media, academia and the public relations industry to examine the growing influence of algorithms and artificial intelligence on public communication, information integrity and democratic discourse in Nigeria.

The Roundtable, founded and convened by Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Ph.D., fnipr, will hold on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Now in its 26th edition, the NECCI PR Roundtable has, over the past 25 years, provided a platform for thought leaders, policymakers, business executives, media professionals, academics and communication practitioners to engage in strategic conversations on issues shaping Nigeria and the wider global communications landscape.

The 2026 edition will focus on the theme, “Algorithmic Influence and Public Relations: AI, Information Integrity and the Ethics of Democratic Discourse in Nigeria.”

The theme comes against the backdrop of the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems, which are fundamentally changing how information is created, distributed, consumed and amplified. The roundtable will examine what these developments mean for public relations, journalism, governance, business and democratic participation in Nigeria, while also interrogating growing challenges including misinformation, disinformation, algorithmic bias, digital manipulation and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

According to Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Ph.D., fnipr, Founder/Convener of the NECCI PR Roundtable, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its growing influence on public discourse have made conversations around information integrity and ethical communication more urgent than ever.

“We live in a rapidly changing world powered by AI, where a single algorithm can shape political narratives, fuel conspiracy theories, and dictate what millions read, believe and share, well before journalists or PR professionals can intervene. Artificial intelligence is no longer a mere idea; it is actively reshaping public conversations, campaigns and discourse by curating biased content, spreading disinformation and creating echo chambers,” she said.

She further noted that the rise of deepfakes, synthetic media and the rapid spread of misinformation across digital platforms is testing the public relations profession in unprecedented ways.

“The tools have changed. The speed has changed. The stakes have changed. And so must we,” she added.

Ali-Balogun said the Roundtable would use Nigeria as a case study to examine how these global challenges are playing out in an emerging democracy and financial ecosystem where digital access is expanding rapidly, even as public trust continues to erode.

She said the Roundtable would provide stakeholders the opportunity to examine practical approaches to navigating the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence, while maintaining professional ethics, accountability and credibility.

Discussions will also revolve around the responsibilities of governments, businesses, technology companies, media organisations, public relations professionals and citizens in protecting information integrity in an increasingly digital society. The Roundtable will further investigate practical strategies that organisations and communication professionals can adopt to build resilient reputations and communicate responsibly within an increasingly algorithm-driven information environment.

The 26th NECCI PR Roundtable continues the organisation’s 25-year tradition of providing a credible platform for strategic dialogue on issues of national importance. This year’s conversation places artificial intelligence, information integrity, and the ethics of democratic discourse at the centre; examining what these mean for a future-ready communication industry, and for sustaining public trust in a democracy.