The Informant247 journalist selected for Anas Aremeyaw Anas AI Accountability Fellowship

Yemi Sodeeq, Heads of Investigations at The Informant247, has been selected as one of 19 journalists for the WikkiTimes’ Anas Aremeyaw Anas AI for Accountability (A3AIA) Fellowship, a programme aimed at equipping reporters with artificial intelligence tools to strengthen investigative journalism and promote transparency in Nigeria’s environmental and extractive sectors.

The fellows were unveiled during a virtual onboarding session held on Friday, March 6, 2026, marking the formal commencement of the fellowship.

The session brought together participants, 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.

“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,” he said.

Anas noted that corruption continues to undermine public institutions and deprive citizens of essential services across many African countries, stressing the need for journalists to break the culture of silence that allows corruption to thrive.

“Corruption steals medicine from hospitals, books from classrooms, justice from courtrooms and sometimes hope from entire generations,” he said.

He emphasised the role of undercover journalism in exposing wrongdoing where conventional reporting proves ineffective, while cautioning that such methods must be guided by integrity, public interest and professional accountability.

He added that the future of investigative journalism would 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.

According to him, 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 technology could also be misused to spread misinformation or fabricate evidence if not applied responsibly.

Also speaking, WikkiTimes Co-Publisher Ajibola Amzat commended Anas for supporting the fellowship and expressed appreciation for his financial contribution and confidence in the initiative.

He urged fellows to use the opportunity to strengthen their investigative skills and contribute meaningfully to accountability journalism, particularly in addressing environmental injustice in northern Nigeria.

In her welcome remarks, the fellowship lead, Hafsah Muhammed Ibrahim congratulated the fellows 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, describing the fellowship as a collaborative platform for learning, innovation and impactful journalism.

The A3AIA 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 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.