Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

A former Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dele Omojuigbe, has called for capacity building for university AI lecturers to ensure the effective integration of artificial intelligence into universities’ academic curricula. Speaking in an exclusive phone interview with AIbase reporter Ugochukwu Levi, Dr Omojuigbe identified several factors militating against the teaching of artificial intelligence in universities across the country, including inadequate human resources, poor capacity building, insufficient funding, and, more worrisome, senility among many lecturers. He charged academic institutions, including universities and related establishments, with focusing more on routine training for younger lecturers who still possess the…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed renewed concern over the increasing use of artificial intelligence in legal practice, warning that unregulated adoption of the technology could undermine professional ethics, client confidentiality, and the credibility of Nigeria’s justice system. The warning was issued by the Chairman of the NBA Bauchi Branch, Rabiu Garba, during the 2026 Annual Law Week, where legal practitioners gathered to discuss emerging trends in the profession. Garba noted that AI tools are now widely used by lawyers for legal research, document drafting, and case analysis, but stressed that their use without clear regulation poses serious risks.…

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has raised concerns over a new wave of artificial intelligence-powered malware attacks targeting Nigerian institutions, warning that government agencies, banks, businesses, and private individuals are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats. In a critical advisory issued through its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT.NG), the agency disclosed that a new malware strain known as “DeepLoad” is actively targeting Nigerian organisations by exploiting social engineering techniques and AI-enabled evasion tactics. According to NITDA, the malware spreads through deceptive website prompts designed to trick users into running malicious commands on their devices. The agency…

The Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, has urged Nigerian youths to take full advantage of emerging opportunities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and national development. Speaking at a youth training and competition programme in Abuja, organised by NextWear Technologies in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised United Nations agency, Minister Wisdom said the future of Nigeria’s economy depends on young people’s ability to embrace technology, think creatively, and develop solutions to real-world challenges. Represented at the event by Chief Obinna Nwaka, the Minister stressed that Nigerian youths must go beyond…

Four Nigerian graduates have launched Reedapt, an artificial intelligence-powered dubbing platform designed to help African filmmakers and digital creators translate films and video content into multiple languages while preserving cultural accuracy and emotional expression. The startup was founded by Apotierioluwa Owoade, David Mac-Asore, Maryann Nnaji and Emmanuel Ibiang, who say the platform aims to make multilingual storytelling more accessible to Nollywood producers, churches and online creators seeking to reach audiences across different regions. The idea for Reedapt grew out of Owoade’s experience working at Aforevo, a Lagos-based streaming and dubbing company. During his time there, he observed the high cost…

A rapidly growing U.S.-based artificial intelligence startup, Kled AI, has suspended operations in Nigeria after alleging that a large majority of uploads from the country were fraudulent, sparking debate over online trust, digital fraud, and the treatment of emerging markets in the global AI industry. The company announced that it had removed its app from Nigeria’s Apple App Store and blocked access from Nigerian IP addresses following what founder Avi Patel described as an overwhelming wave of fake submissions and identity-related fraud on the platform. Kled AI operates a crowdsourced data marketplace where users upload photos, videos, and documents that…

The Federal Government has launched a major reform initiative to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the nation’s civil service operations, as part of efforts to modernise governance, improve efficiency, and strengthen public service delivery across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The initiative was unveiled in Abuja during a three-day AI Literacy Training Programme organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and with support from the European Union (EU). The reform programme is expected to reposition the Federal Civil Service into…

The United Kingdom has launched a €827,000 Digital Energy Challenge for Nigerian innovators and small and medium-sized enterprises developing artificial intelligence and digital solutions to improve energy access and efficiency. The programme forms part of broader international efforts to strengthen energy systems in Africa through technology-driven approaches, with Nigeria positioned as a key focus due to its persistent electricity access challenges. The initiative is designed to move beyond theoretical ideas and support solutions that can be tested and deployed in real-world energy environments. It encourages innovations that can be implemented within 12 months, particularly those that improve electricity distribution, enhance…

Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has filed a defamation lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company’s artificial intelligence system falsely labelled him a convicted sex offender, causing serious damage to his reputation and career. The lawsuit was filed in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice and seeks approximately 1.5 million Canadian dollars in damages. At the centre of the case is Google’s “AI Overview” feature, which generates automated summaries in response to search queries. According to the statement of claim, the tool produced a response that incorrectly alleged MacIsaac had been convicted of sexual offences, including assault and child luring, and that…

Artificial intelligence startup Sierra has secured $950 million in fresh funding, underscoring intensifying competition among companies seeking to dominate enterprise AI applications, particularly in customer experience and automation. The funding round, led by Tiger Global and GV, values the company at over $15 billion, marking a sharp increase from earlier valuations and highlighting strong investor appetite for enterprise-focused AI platforms. Sierra was co-founded in 2023 by Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor and has quickly emerged as a major contender in the fast-growing AI agent space. The company develops AI-powered systems designed to handle customer service and enterprise workflows, aiming to…