The Vice Chancellor of University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, on Wednesday disclosed that the Federal Government is on the verge of releasing a national policy that will regulate the use and application of Artificial intelligence in the country.
Artificial intelligence is the deployment of computer systems to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
It makes use of algorithms and data to make decisions, often faster and more accurately than humans.
Over the years, AI has become popular in Nigeria, particularly in the fintech industry, with 29 percent of companies adopting it for content creation.
Speaking on the trend, Ishaya revealed that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani and other stakeholders in the sector are currently putting heads together on a draft document that will soon be unveiled to the public.
The Vice chancellor made the revelation on Wednesday while giving a keynote remark at the national symposium on ‘Accelerating Digital Inclusion and Skills Advancement and Acquisition in Nigeria’ in Abuja.
“I was privileged to be part of the few think tanks that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy called to a meeting for the draft of a policy document that will regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the country.
“The minister is putting things together and will soon come up with something exciting about the policy, ” he said.
According to him, technology has no bias for gender hence citizens should be open minded to leverage on it because of its enormous benefits.
“Let me tell you that there is nothing like gender bias in artificial intelligence, it does not know whether you are male or female.”
An AI expert, Chinonso Lekwa, also shared his sentiment on artificial intelligence technology.
Lekwa stressed that the use of AI will aid the country in health, business, education, agriculture and infrastructural development, adding that it will help in creation and upgrading of jobs.
He said, “As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that the strength of our nation lies in our ability to unite and work towards a common purpose. It is through our collective efforts that we can address the challenges before us and pave the way for a brighter future.”
“This symposium brings together a diverse group of individuals—academics, professionals, policymakers, and women entrepreneurs—all united by a common goal: to foster collaboration, encourage innovation, and drive progress in accelerating digital inclusion and skills acquisition in Nigeria.”
The state of AI in Nigeria
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria remains in its early stages, according to experts who spoke at the Lagos Startup Week. They discussed the challenges and essential infrastructure needed to foster AI innovation in the country.
One of the primary obstacles to AI growth in Nigeria is the state of education. Despite the presence of AI startups like Uniccon Group, known for creating Nigeria’s first humanoid robot, the overall development of AI in the nation is still nascent.
On July 14, 2023, during the Lagos Startup Week, tech ecosystem experts confirmed that AI in Nigeria has yet to take significant strides. They emphasized that the sector is not even at the crawling stage, indicating the extensive work required to advance AI technology in the country.
