Prof Yakubu Ochefu charges Ochanya to tackle AI bias in Nigeria, Africa

The President-General of Ochetoha K’Idoma, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, has described Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, as a quiet philanthropist whose interventions continue to empower people and support institutions.

Ochefu spoke at a ceremony in Abuja marking the fulfilment of Obla’s promise to sponsor Ochanya Owoicho, the first female of Idoma extraction to graduate with first-class honours from the Nigerian Law School, for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.

Recalling his first encounter with Ochanya at an Idoma Hall of Fame event, Ochefu said he was pleased to learn that she would soon be leaving for London for her studies.

He described Obla as a man who keeps his promises and said his philanthropic activities were carried out without seeking publicity.

“Promises are made to be kept. For some people, they are made to be broken, just like legs, heads and arms. But we all know that a man of his worth is a beacon in society,” Ochefu said.

He added: “The Godwin Obla Foundation is not a noise-making foundation. It’s a foundation that quietly does things to empower, and here is another testimonial to that effect.”

Ochefu said he had personally witnessed some of Obla’s interventions in schools, while the Chief Medical Director of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, had also seen facilities provided through the foundation.

He recalled that the Association of Nigerian Universities Alumni had sought to honour Obla as a distinguished supporter of alumni associations because of his contributions to his former primary and secondary schools.

Turning to Ochanya, Ochefu described her as a first-class scholar who now carries the expectations of the Idoma people as she begins her postgraduate studies.

“We know that as a daughter of Idoma, yours is the real first class and will not let us down,” he said.

Ochefu also urged Ochanya to use her LLM programme in Artificial Intelligence and the Law to examine challenges affecting Nigeria and Africa, particularly ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias.

He cited the potential for racial bias in AI-generated or algorithmically ranked images as an example of issues requiring greater scrutiny.

“These are some of the things that you should put your brilliant mind into interrogating as we look towards the course we are going to do,” he told Ochanya.

Ochefu also noted that Ochanya would have access to a growing Idoma community in London, which he said could provide support during her stay in the United Kingdom.

He wished her success as she begins the next phase of her academic and professional career.