Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

Productivity tools have always reflected the dominant technologies of their time. From the typewriter to the personal computer, from email to cloud collaboration, each shift has altered not only how work is done, but what organisations expect from workers. Today, artificial intelligence is driving the next transition, and Microsoft Copilot sits at the centre of this change. For Nigerian professionals, students, civil servants, journalists, and business leaders, the emergence of AI-powered workplace tools is no longer a distant Silicon Valley trend. It is already embedded in widely used software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. The question is…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we work, communicate, and create. From automating repetitive tasks to generating creative content, AI promises efficiency, innovation, and new economic opportunities. Yet, as organisations and individuals rush to integrate AI into daily workflows, a growing question emerges: Are the people most engaged with AI, the enthusiasts, early adopters, and heavy users, at higher risk of burnout? This article explores the nuanced relationship between AI adoption and occupational stress, highlighting cognitive, social, and organisational dimensions. Drawing on research, expert insights, and emerging patterns from tech workplaces globally, we examine the hidden costs of embracing AI.…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept confined to research laboratories; it has become a transformative force across global economies. Among the most promising branches of AI is explainable AI (xAI). Unlike traditional AI systems, which often operate as opaque “black boxes,” xAI models provide transparency, allowing stakeholders to understand how decisions are made. This capability is particularly relevant in sectors where trust, accountability, and regulatory compliance are critical. For Nigerian businesses and policymakers, the emergence of xAI presents both opportunities and challenges. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and home to a rapidly growing digital ecosystem, is poised to…

From the early days of social networking to today’s generative intelligence revolution, Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, has been at the forefront of digital transformation. In the last few years, Meta has deeply embedded artificial intelligence (AI) across its platforms, not merely as a technical novelty, but as an integrated suite of tools for communication, creativity and commerce. For Nigerian readers, artists, journalists, academics, policymakers, students, entrepreneurs and digital creators, the rise of Meta AI matters for several reasons. First, the platforms themselves are deeply woven into the fabric of online life in Nigeria and across Africa: billions of…

From Shared Origins to Diverging Visions Few developments in contemporary technology have generated as much global attention as the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. At the centre of this transformation sits a small group of technology leaders whose ideas, investments, and disagreements have helped shape the direction of AI research and deployment. Among them, Elon Musk occupies a particularly complex position. He was a co-founder of OpenAI in 2015, helped fund its early work, publicly warned about the dangers of unregulated AI, and then later became one of its most vocal critics. In 2023, Musk launched a new artificial intelligence…

Nigeria is stepping up efforts to strengthen its national cyber defences as artificial-intelligence-powered cyberattacks become more frequent and costly, raising concerns about threats to the country’s financial system, digital infrastructure, and public services. The Federal Government, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), says it is developing a comprehensive cybersecurity framework to tighten standards across the public and private sectors as attackers increasingly use AI tools to automate and scale digital intrusions. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of NITDA, said the nature of cyber threats facing Nigeria has changed significantly, with artificial intelligence enabling faster, more targeted and harder-to-detect attacks.…

For more than three decades, Microsoft Office  now rebranded as Microsoft 365  has been the backbone of digital work across governments, universities, newsrooms and businesses worldwide. In Nigeria, Word, Excel and PowerPoint are not merely productivity tools; they are institutional infrastructure.. Civil servants draft policy documents in Word, lecturers prepare lecture notes and results sheets in Excel, journalists write copy in Outlook and Word, while small businesses manage invoices and records using spreadsheets. Yet the way people work with these tools has remained largely unchanged: humans issue commands, software executes them. Microsoft Copilot represents a significant departure from this model.…

In a decisive move poised to reshape the country’s economic landscape, the Government of Tanzania has launched a landmark scholarship initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science and allied technological fields. The scheme -known as the Samia Extended Scholarship for Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Allied Sciences (DS/AI+)-is more than an educational programme; it is a strategic investment in the nation’s future. Unveiled in July 2025 by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the scholarship reflects a growing consensus within government circles that mastery of advanced technologies is central to Tanzania’s…

A group of human rights activists has turned to Kenya’s High Court in Kerugoya in an urgent bid to halt what they describe as the unregulated rollout of “high-risk artificial intelligence systems” across the country, arguing that the rapid deployment of AI technologies without adequate safeguards threatens fundamental constitutional rights. The petition, filed on Feb. 5, 2026, names the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and the Principal Secretary in the State Department for ICT as respondents. The activists are seeking “conservatory orders” to prevent the government from authorising, deploying or operationalising these AI systems until the case…

The Angolan government has announced plans to pilot the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in selected primary schools as part of efforts to modernize the country’s education system and strengthen digital skills at an early age. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Education, will begin with 10 public primary schools drawn from 10 provinces. The pilot phase will introduce AI-supported learning tools and digital resources into classrooms, alongside basic infrastructure to support their use. Minister of Education Luísa Grilo said the programme is intended to support teaching and learning, stressing that AI will not replace teachers but rather assist…