Author: Ugochukwu Levi F

Financial experts, banking stakeholders, and policy analysts are urging Nigerian banks to accelerate the adoption of privacy-by-design frameworks and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in fraud-prevention systems, amid rising concerns about cybercrime and data protection compliance in the financial sector. Industry stakeholders say the increasing sophistication of digital fraud requires banks to move beyond reactive security measures and embed privacy and risk controls into the core design of their digital systems. Speaking at industry discussions on digital transformation in banking, the President of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), Rasheed Bolarinwa, emphasised that trust in…

Mali is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to address rising youth unemployment and limited job opportunities in traditional sectors. Government officials say the country is seeking to reposition its young population for the digital economy through targeted skills development and innovation programmes. “Mali cannot depend only on traditional sectors. We must prepare our youth for the technologies shaping the future,” said an official from the Ministry of Digital Economy at a recent technology forum in Bamako. Private sector actors and innovation hubs are also playing a growing role in this transition. Organisations involved in robotics training say…

Stakeholders in the disability-inclusion and technology space have called on visually impaired people to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve independence, productivity, and access to opportunities. The call was made at a recent awareness and advocacy engagement focused on assistive technology and digital inclusion for persons with disabilities in Nigeria, where experts emphasised that emerging AI systems are increasingly becoming essential support tools rather than optional innovations. Speaking at the event, a disability inclusion advocate, Ayoola Efunkoya, noted that access to assistive technology remains limited globally, underscoring the importance of users actively embracing available innovations. “These tools are not…

The International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) Nigeria has officially announced its 2026 Cake Expo, unveiling a technology-focused theme that places artificial intelligence at the centre of the country’s baking and confectionery industry transformation. The expo, scheduled for October 7–8, 2026, will run under the theme “AI Advantage: Elevating Cake Business and Creativity”, according to organisers. Country Representative of ICES Nigeria, Obianuju Arinze, said the upcoming event is designed to equip bakers and cake entrepreneurs with modern tools for business growth and creative expansion. “We are in a time where technology is no longer optional; it is essential. Artificial intelligence is…

The Ghanaian government, led by John Dramani Mahama, has unveiled a 10-year national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy to guide responsible technology development and position the country as a regional innovation hub. Speaking during the launch in Accra, Mahama said the country must shape AI in line with its own values, noting that “we must ensure artificial intelligence reflects Ghanaian realities, supports our people, and drives inclusive growth.” The plan, launched by the country’s number one citizen, sets out a roadmap from 2025 to 2035 that focuses on using AI to drive economic growth, improve public services, and create jobs, while ensuring ethical…

Orange Egypt has partnered with Paragon Adeer and Plug and Play to launch Egypt’s first artificial intelligence campus, an initiative aimed at supporting the creation of 100 AI startups by 2030. The project, announced following a memorandum of understanding signed at the Grand Egyptian Museum, will be located within the Sumou Boulevard development in New Cairo and span roughly 500 acres. It is designed to be a regional innovation hub linking startups, investors, and technology partners across the Middle East and Africa. AIBase Nig The campus will anchor the “AI 100” programme, a multi-year initiative focused on scaling growth-stage AI…

HrFlow.ai, an AI-driven human resources technology company, has announced it has raised $7 million in fresh funding to accelerate the development of its global labour market infrastructure platform. The company said the funding will be used to expand its AI-powered recruitment tools, strengthen data infrastructure, and scale operations across new international markets. In a statement released by the company, HrFlow.ai described the investment as a step toward “redefining how talent is discovered, evaluated, and matched across borders in real time.” “This funding allows us to push forward our mission of building an intelligent layer for the global labour market,” the…

Global data centre capacity is expected to expand sharply over the coming years, with projections indicating an additional 125 gigawatts (GW) of demand, driven largely by artificial intelligence workloads worldwide. Industry analysts say the rapid rise of generative AI, large language models, and cloud computing is fundamentally reshaping infrastructure requirements, pushing hyperscalers and investors to accelerate data centre development at an unprecedented scale. A McKinsey analysis projects that global data centre demand could rise from about 82 GW in 2025 to more than 200 GW by 2030, with AI accounting for a majority of the incremental growth. The report notes…

A legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has gone to trial in Oakland, California, marking a major escalation in a dispute over the company’s structure, mission, and control. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, is suing Altman, OpenAI, and Microsoft, alleging the organisation abandoned its original nonprofit mission to develop artificial intelligence for public benefit after shifting toward a for-profit model. According to court filings, Musk argues he was misled about the company’s long-term direction and claims the restructuring violated its founding principles. Musk alleges he was “duped when Altman transformed OpenAI from a non-profit entity into…

Libya has announced the successful completion of its first artificial intelligence (AI)-directed drilling operation at the Al-Khair oil field, a development the National Oil Corporation (NOC) says marks a significant step in the country’s oil sector modernisation and positions it among early adopters of autonomous drilling systems globally. The operation was carried out by the Sirte Oil and Gas Production and Manufacturing Company, using AI-enabled drilling technologies developed in collaboration with international energy technology partners. According to the NOC, the system was deployed to guide directional drilling in real time, reducing the need for manual control during key phases of…