Joel Ajayi
At the National Artificial Intelligence Stakeholders Roundtable 2025, Abiola Odetola, an emerging leader in governance, public policy strategy, and development in Nigeria, delivered a compelling message on the ethical direction and urgent need for proactive regulation of artificial intelligence across the African continent.
Speaking during the Fireside Chat on “AI Regulation and Public Policy” alongside global strategist Major Adebayo Adeleke, Odetola emphasized that Nigeria and Africa must not merely adopt AI technologies, but must actively govern, contextualize, and humanize them.
“We must not allow Artificial Intelligence to govern us; instead, we must boldly govern AI with a human-centered, inclusive approach that reflects our values, context, and aspirations as Africans,” Odetola stated, setting the tone for a forward-looking conversation.
Event Overview
The event, themed “Shaping the Future of AI Governance, Ethics, and Innovation,” was convened by the American Center for Artificial Intelligence and held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja. It brought together leaders in technology, governance, academia, and civil society to chart a strategic course for Nigeria’s AI future.
In his welcome address, Mr. Olusola Amusan, Director of the American Center for AI, emphasized a people-first approach to AI deployment in Africa. He highlighted inclusivity, security, and local relevance as critical pillars for building AI systems that work for African communities.
The keynote presentation by Professor Boniface Alese, titled “AI Defenders I: Revolutionizing Cybersecurity,” explored the intersection of AI and national security infrastructure. The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), also emphasized academia’s role in shaping indigenous research and talent pipelines.
It was against this backdrop of institutional frameworks and technical insight that Odetola’s intervention stood out — offering a human-centered counterbalance and elevating the conversation toward governance that is not only strategic, but values-driven.
The Call for Localized AI Governance
Odetola’s remarks focused heavily on the governance and policy landscape. He underscored the urgency of developing homegrown strategies for regulating AI that go beyond adopting Western norms.
“The world is in a race. But Africa must not sprint blindly. We must legislate, regulate, educate, and protect our people from being mere users of technologies they neither designed nor understood,” he said.
He warned that without clear and inclusive governance structures, AI could deepen inequality, exacerbate unemployment, and replicate existing biases embedded in data.
“AI must be taught our languages, trained with our realities, and must serve our priorities. That is governance. That is power,” he added.
Global Models, Local Realities
Odetola acknowledged the strides made in global AI governance, noting that several models already exist around the world that seek to promote ethical, transparent, and accountable use of artificial intelligence.
However, he was quick to caution against blind imitation.
“Nigeria must not mimic without meaning,” Odetola asserted.
“We need a National AI Strategy that is affordable, enforceable, and local in spirit. Our policymakers must work hand-in-hand with developers, startups, and civil society to co-create these rules.”
He emphasized that many developed nations have already begun an “ethical AI revolution,” but warned that Nigeria must not be left behind — nor fall into the trap of modern algorithmic colonization.
“The global models? They don’t speak our languages. They don’t reflect our cultures. They don’t represent our diversity,” he said.
“We must not just copy frameworks — we must create. We must code in our own context, legislate in our language, and govern with our own values.”
He called for a bold new direction: one where Nigeria builds its own datasets, trains its own models, and leads the world in African-centered AI ethics.
Preparing for the Storms Ahead
While optimistic about AI’s potential, Odetola didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges ahead: low digital literacy, infrastructure deficits, weak data protection enforcement, and a public trust deficit in governance systems.
“These are not reasons to retreat. They are signals to prepare. Nigeria’s youth, with the right support, can leapfrog into global AI leadership,” he stated.
While responding to questions during the chat, Odetola cautioned the audience:
“We must be careful how we define our national realities. For the avoidance of doubt, there are policymakers in Nigeria — people who live their lives to ensure that this country has the best of policy instruments, not just for AI but across critical sectors,” he said.
He pointed to the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation Law and the creation of the National Data Protection Commission in 2023 as evidence of progress in legislative support for AI governance.
He also acknowledged ongoing work by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in crafting a National AI Strategy, noting that discussions must be future-facing while grounded in today’s realities.
The Future is Governance
Odetola made a strong case for recognizing AI as a public good — one that must be designed and governed in service of human development.
“AI must be treated as a public good — for healthcare, for education, for agriculture, for sports, for justice. The people must be at the center of every AI deployment,” he noted.
His voice stood out not just for its policy depth, but for its moral clarity. As Nigeria inches closer to its first formal AI strategy, his words may serve as a compass — a reminder that the future is not just technological; it is political, ethical, and deeply human.
In his final words, he left the room with a challenge:
“AI governance is not a tech issue. It is a leadership issue. The real question is not what AI can do. It is — who will it serve, and who will be left behind if we do not govern it right.”
