By Olasunkanmi Arowolo
Language is never neutral. In Nigeria, it has always been political, cultural and symbolic. Our journalists are not only recorders of events but also guardians of language and national identity. Through them, British English was stabilised as the country’s official standard while Nigerian English developed its own rhythm and expression.
That delicate balance is now under threat. Artificial Intelligence is quietly tilting Nigerian journalism towards American English. Reporters, often without realising it, are adopting American spelling, punctuation and style because the tools they rely on were built in a different cultural context.
At first glance, this may look harmless. But what is at stake is much deeper: the erosion of linguistic sovereignty and the risk of becoming conduits of digital imperialism.
The Invisible Drift
AI writing assistants are not neutral. They carry the DNA of their training data. Since most are built on American usage, their output reflects American norms. This explains the sudden flood of em dashes in Nigerian reporting, a punctuation choice uncommon here but typical of US writing.
The same can be said of words like ‘program’ instead of ‘programme’, ‘center’ instead of ‘centre’, or ‘color’ where readers expect ‘colour’. These shifts are not conscious editorial decisions. They are signs of a creeping influence.
Over time, readers notice. A Nigerian newspaper story that reads as if it were written for an American audience feels less authentic, less connected. It risks weakening the trust between journalist and reader.
Self-Colonisation by Technology
What makes this even more troubling is the uncritical way technology is often adopted in Africa. Innovation is welcomed as progress, yet the cultural costs are rarely counted.
In journalism, this means allowing AI to dictate language norms, as though American English is the natural future and Nigerian expression an obstacle to efficiency. This attitude reflects a deeper problem: a tendency to undervalue our own linguistic and cultural identity.
This is not about resisting change at all costs. Language evolves. But evolution should be shaped by a people, not outsourced to algorithms with no understanding of context.
Why It Matters
Journalism is more than information. It is also a connection. Readers trust the press not only because of facts but because of familiarity and resonance. If our news begins to sound foreign, it risks alienating the very audience it serves.
Consider how quickly people switch off when a broadcaster’s accent feels artificial. The same logic applies to written journalism. If stories no longer sound Nigerian in tone, rhythm or choice of words, they lose some of their power to persuade and to connect.
Guarding Sovereignty
The question then arises: are we witnessing a subtle form of conquest through language? Not with armies, but with algorithms.
Nigeria’s journalists, who have stood firm against censorship and political manipulation, now face a quieter challenge. They must decide whether to protect their linguistic ground or allow it to be redrawn by invisible hands.
What Can Be Done
First, media organisations should set clear editorial policies. These policies should affirm British English as Nigeria’s official standard, while giving Nigerian English its proper space. Journalists need clear guidance when using AI tools, so that machines serve the profession rather than reshape it.
Second, there should be transparency. If AI tools assist in producing stories, readers deserve to know. A simple disclosure note would protect credibility.
Third, and most important, journalists themselves must become conscious defenders of linguistic identity. Choosing not to normalise American spellings or structures is not stubbornness. It is cultural self-respect.
The Wider Stakes
This issue goes beyond journalism. Once journalists normalise American English through AI, others will follow. Teachers, writers, broadcasters and policymakers often take their cues from the press. If the press yields, so does much of society.
The stakes are therefore national. Language is not a small detail. It is a mirror of sovereignty.
A Call to Reflect
Nigerian journalists must approach AI with a critical eye. Technology can be a tool, but it should not become a master. The responsibility lies with practitioners to ensure that their language, and by extension their identity, is not eroded by convenience.
AI will not disappear. It will become even more embedded in reporting. But how Nigerian journalism engages with it will determine whether the profession strengthens its bond with readers or weakens it.
To defend the language of our journalism is to defend credibility, culture and sovereignty. If we fail to do that, we risk losing far more than spelling. We risk losing our voice.
About the Author
Olasunkanmi Arowolo, PhD (Journalism, University of Kent), is a researcher, media practitioner, and quality education advocate with expertise in journalism, digital governance, and media analysis. He is an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Communications and Media Studies, Lagos State University, Nigeria. He can be contacted at oa@olaarowolo.com or on X/Twitter @olaarowolo
