Foluke Dada, Professor of Law and Dean, Faculty of Law, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, has disapproved of students’ over-reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for their academic works and projects, saying that an over-reliance on AI could, if left unchecked, spell disaster for future generations.
Dada, in his papers at the eighth inaugural Caleb Lecture, noted: “Human Rights in the Digital Age, Artificial Navigation Intelligence, Its Biases and Impacts on the Nigerian Judiciary,” a advised students to use AI as a guide, but should desist from relying on it to have a human, professional, ethical and moral aspect to promote academic integrity.
Meanwhile, SATH Foundation has been advocating for ethical governance to build trust in AI systems in Nigeria. In his opening remarks at an event in Lagos that brought together stakeholders from leading organizations, such as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Microsoft, Google and others to discuss the future of AI ethics and governance, Signal Alliance Technology Holding (SATH) Chairman Collins Onuegbu emphasized the importance of building trust in AI systems.
Dada disclosed that Nigeria is at the forefront of technological innovations in Africa and that the implications of artificial intelligence for the country’s justice system are profound, adding that the nation must open a discussion on how to integrate AI ethically and responsibly to ensure that it strengthens the rule of law and further protects the fundamental rights of all Nigerians.
The law professor, therefore, stressed the need for Nigerian courts to accelerate their efforts to sensitize legal practitioners on the adoption of virtual hearings to facilitate the country’s legal proceedings.
Dada, which has argued that addressing the challenges of AI-induced discrimination requires collective efforts from various stakeholders, its developers are also playing a collective role in prioritizing diverse datasets, implementing robust bias detection methods, and embracing algorithmic transparency.
She noted that, as a matter of urgency, policymakers need to develop comprehensive legal frameworks to promote the responsible development of artificial intelligence, protect privacy and hold stakeholders accountable, adding that society as a whole also has a role to play in equipping itself with knowledge, demanding informed dialogue and active participation in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, a non-profit arm of Signal Alliance Technology Holding (SATH), SATH Foundation, has advocated for ethical governance to build trust in AI systems in Nigeria.
In his opening remarks at an event in Lagos that brought together stakeholders from leading organisations, such as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Microsoft, Google and other notable organisations from various sectors, to engage in discussions on the future of AI ethics and governance, Chairman of Signal Alliance Technology Holding (SATH), Collins Onuegbu, highlighted the transformative impact of AI on everyday interactions and the importance of building trust in AI systems.
Additionally, Chioma Okee-Aguguo, NITDA South West Zone Manager, highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnerships and NITDA’s commitment to ensuring technology is accessible and ethically deployed.
Others speaking at the event stressed the importance of data classification and the need to ensure transparency and reduce bias in AI development.
However, they looked at open systems, from data collection to its use and interpretation. Experts also highlighted the need to ensure data security when training AI models, learning from global best practices and applying them from a local perspective.
