Rep member, expert call on FG to legislate AI policy in Nigeria

A member of the House of Representatives, Donald Ojogo, and a management consultant, Dr. Awe Agboluga, have called on the Federal Government to initiate legislation for the adoption and regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria.

They urged the Federal Executive Council to submit a bill for the enactment of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy by the second quarter of 2026, while also tasking the National Assembly to review and pass it into law by the fourth quarter of the same year.

The call was made during a one-day research conference hosted by Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), with the theme: “Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development: Implications for Government, Economy, Society and Policy Making in Nigeria.”

Ojogo, who represents Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, stressed the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to bridge the gap between AI technology and its real-life applications. Represented by Mr. Richard Olatunde, he said AI could provide immediate solutions in healthcare, agriculture, education, and environmental management.

He noted that integrating indigenous knowledge with AI models could foster innovations tailored to local challenges, particularly in riverine communities, while calling for ongoing evaluation to measure AI’s effectiveness in real-time.

On his part, Dr. Agboluga recommended the development of a national AI cybersecurity protocol to protect financial institutions and promote corporate accountability. He urged the EFCC and professional bodies like ANAN and ICAN to introduce ethics training to address algorithmic bias and encourage responsible use of AI. He also emphasized stricter enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) to secure personal data.

Representing the ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Olasupo Ijabadeniyi, said the institution is aligning its curriculum with emerging technologies to prepare students for the digital future.

Also speaking, Provost of the College of Social and Management Sciences and DVC (Academics), Prof. Olayinka Aina, said ABUAD had secured NUC approval to introduce degree programmes in Data Science and Cybersecurity from the 2025/2026 academic session.