Google Selects Six Nigerian News Creators for AI and Growth Program

The Google News Initiative (GNI) has chosen six Nigerian independent news creators to participate in its "Emerging News Voices Growth Lab." This program is designed to bolster digital newsrooms by focusing on artificial intelligence, video strategy, audience development, and sustainable revenue models. The selected Nigerian platforms include The Republic, More Branches TV, Onlinebanker, Adetunji Films, Wearegst, and Iswellthecapitalist.

“

Independent news creators and digital-native newsrooms are shaping how Africans, and Nigerians in particular, find and understand the news.

These creators are part of a broader cohort of approximately 20 emerging news entities from across Sub-Saharan Africa participating in the multi-month virtual program, which runs until September 2026. The initiative specifically targets independent digital newsrooms, many of which operate with limited resources while significantly influencing how younger audiences consume news. Participants are gaining practical experience with Google's AI tools, such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Google Trends, and SynthID, applying them to newsroom activities like research, transcription, translation, and verification.

“

The Growth Lab gives these creators what growing newsrooms need most: practical AI skills, a clear video and audience strategy, direct relationships with their readers and a path to sustainable revenue.

Beyond AI, the program delves into video production and audience expansion, offering strategies for increasing reach through YouTube Shorts and long-form content. It also emphasizes building direct relationships with readers via newsletters and open-web platforms. Crucially, participants are learning about monetization strategies, product differentiation, and building sustainable audience growth models.

“

When emerging voices build capability and financial independence, the whole news ecosystem becomes more resilient, diverse and sustainable.

Marianne Erasmus, News Partnerships Lead for the Middle East and Africa at Google, highlighted the program's role in equipping emerging newsrooms with essential skills and resources for sustainability. She stated that these independent creators are pivotal in shaping news consumption in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. "The Growth Lab gives these creators what growing newsrooms need most: practical AI skills, a clear video and audience strategy, direct relationships with their readers and a path to sustainable revenue," Erasmus said. She added that strengthening these newsrooms contributes to a more resilient and diverse media industry overall.

“

Google’s Emerging News Voices Growth Lab is giving us practical ways to combine audience insight, product thinking and the responsible use of AI as we build a more sustainable future for The Republic’s journalism.