Author: Okikiola O. Johnson

Nigeria is intensifying its push for a coordinated continental framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI), urging African countries to align policies, infrastructure, and governance systems to secure the continent’s digital future. Speaking at continental digital economy and AI governance forums across Africa, Nigerian officials urged member states to adopt a unified framework for developing artificial intelligence. A key concern raised is that inconsistent regulations and siloed data frameworks could limit innovation and weaken Africa’s competitiveness in emerging AI-driven industries. Nigeria argues that stronger regional collaboration, particularly around cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data governance, is essential to building a resilient digital economy.…

Artificial Intelligence & Communication Technologies (AICT) has secured a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, in recognition of its advances in Physical AI systems and data security, according to official event disclosures. The award highlights AICT’s work on a privacy-aware on-device intelligent computing framework designed to strengthen data protection in environments powered by Physical AI. The system focuses on processing sensitive information directly on devices rather than in centralised systems, reducing exposure risks while maintaining high-performance AI capabilities in real-world deployments. The innovation integrates multimodal sensing and edge-based intelligence, enabling AI systems to analyse environmental and operational data…

Nigeria is accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across key sectors as part of a broader national push to improve efficiency, strengthen public services, and enhance fraud detection capabilities. The initiative is particularly focused on high-impact areas such as finance, healthcare, agriculture, and public administration, where AI tools are being deployed to automate processes, improve decision-making, and detect irregularities in real time. AI for efficiency and fraud detection In the financial sector, regulators and institutions are increasingly adopting AI-driven systems to identify suspicious transactions, strengthen anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks, and reduce fraud risks. Recent policy direction has also encouraged…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is intensifying plans to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to reduce production costs and improve efficiency in its upstream operations. The company says the move is part of a broader strategy to modernise Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, enhance productivity, and strengthen competitiveness in the global energy market. According to senior executives, digital transformation has become essential for survival in the industry as companies face rising operational costs and efficiency pressures. “It is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’; it is an absolute necessity.” -NNPCL representative, Udobong Ntia He added that failing to…

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a technological novelty into a central driver of global power. Beyond business and research, it now shapes international relations, economic competitiveness, and military strategy, offering nations that master it a chance at unprecedented global influence. Governments worldwide are acting with urgency, investing in AI infrastructure, shaping national policies, and forging international partnerships to secure technological sovereignty. Experts say the race now goes beyond developing AI itself-it’s about controlling the networks, data flows, computational power, and regulatory frameworks that support it. Below is an insight into how governments around the world are navigating the global…

Nigeria is moving forward with plans to establish one of the continent’s most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence, as the government and lawmakers advance legislative proposals to govern AI development, deployment, and oversight across the economy. The federal government has completed a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which outlines principles for responsible AI use, governance structures, transparency requirements, and risk management guidelines. That strategy now awaits approval by the National Assembly, according to government officials. “Artificial intelligence is a profound engine of creativity, capable of augmenting human intelligence and expanding the horizons of human possibilities. Nigeria must not be passive…

A United Nations-backed panel has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa could deepen inequalities and lead to a new form of “digital colonisation,” where foreign technologies dominate local economies and extract value from the continent’s data. The warning comes from a newly established international scientific panel on AI, created with the backing of the UN General Assembly to guide global governance of the technology. The group, made up of dozens of experts from multiple countries, is expected to shape policy discussions over the next three years. Experts on the panel say Africa risks becoming overly…

OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, has called for a sweeping “New Deal”-style framework to prepare societies for the disruptive impact of artificial superintelligence, warning that governments must act early to manage the economic and social consequences of rapidly advancing AI systems. In a recent policy proposal, the OpenAI chief outlined a vision for restructuring key aspects of modern economies, arguing that superintelligent AI could transform industries, labour markets, and wealth distribution on a scale comparable to the Industrial Revolution. Altman emphasised that while AI has the potential to unlock unprecedented productivity and prosperity, it also poses serious risks, including large-scale job…

Event professionals gathered in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, for Summit Africa 5.0 to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping event management, with a strong emphasis on practical application, efficiency, and creative expansion. The summit brought together planners, creatives, vendors, and industry stakeholders to examine how AI tools can enhance coordination, improve client experience, and support the scaling of event services. Demonstrations focused on real-world use cases, showing how technology can reduce routine guesswork while enabling more informed decision-making. Speakers at the event highlighted that AI is increasingly being used to generate data-driven insights for attendance forecasting, logistics planning,…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global labour market, forcing students to reconsider their career paths. As AI automates routine and knowledge-based tasks, many students are questioning the relevance and future prospects of their chosen majors and professions. Research now provides evidence that AI influences not only career perceptions but also concrete educational decisions. Below are the findings: Research Findings A. Psychological Impact of AI A research study was conducted by Ninggui Duan of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities in China, Lina Li of Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin in Thailand, and Guangbo Lin and Hao Chen of Baise University…