Nigeria has taken a stride to formulate regulations on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to harness its potential while addressing the complex challenges it poses.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced the co-creation of a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the country via his official LinkedIn page.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven to be a versatile technology that is reshaping industries and service delivery on a global scale. It has the potential to significantly contribute to economic growth and societal progress,” the minister noted.
According to research, AI could contribute a staggering $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with a substantial portion coming from increased productivity and the creation of new products and services.
In the African context, the International Finance Corporation has projected that the strategic adoption of AI could boost the continent’s GDP by $234 billion by 2030.
“Nigeria, in particular, boasts a rapidly growing technology start-up ecosystem, having secured 25% of the $1.3 billion funding directed towards African tech start-ups in 2021. With proactive leadership, Nigeria is well-positioned to leverage AI for economic diversification and inclusive growth,” Dr Tijani stated.
He further stated that, “As an innovation leader within Africa, Nigeria recognizes the need to develop a comprehensive national strategy to capitalize on AI’s potential for sustainable development. However, alongside the promising opportunities, the governance of AI presents intricate socio-technical challenges.”
He however noted that the deployment of AI algorithms in critical sectors such as healthcare, finance, and security raises concerns about ethics, bias, transparency, job displacement, and privacy.
“Policymakers and researchers concur that a human-centred approach is pivotal in ensuring fairness and accountability of AI systems across diverse demographics.”
The minister said the establishment of a National AI Strategy for Nigeria is deemed crucial to steer the AI revolution responsibly towards achieving the nation’s objectives in job creation, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
“Nigeria aims to be at the forefront of ethical and inclusive AI innovation, enhancing citizens’ welfare and expanding opportunities for all, Dr Tijani said.
The primary objective of this strategy is to build upon the groundwork laid by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in shaping a National AI strategy.
This effort involves a collaborative approach that engages top AI researchers of Nigerian descent from around the world in crafting this strategy.
The approach is outlined in a white paper released by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
The methodology employed to identify these researchers involves a meticulous process.
“By analyzing global AI research publications, researchers of Nigerian descent were identified regardless of their location. Machine learning models, including Naïve Bayes and Logistic Regression, were used to ensure high accuracy in identifying these researchers. A research index akin to the “h-index” was developed to scientifically select the most prominent AI researchers among the identified pool,” he noted.
The strategy’s development occurs in two stages. The first stage involves machine-supported decision-making, utilizing predictive models to narrow down potential researchers of Nigerian descent.
The second stage involves crowd-sourcing, recognizing the possibility of false positives and the importance of wider engagement in refining the list of researchers.
The public is encouraged to contribute to this stage by suggesting additional researchers, and confirming their residence and affiliations, thus enhancing the accuracy and inclusivity of the strategy.