The Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s lower legislative body, the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has said Nigeria is actively implementing strategies to ensure the responsible application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an effort to leverage the capabilities of technology toward safeguarding democratic principles.
The Deputy Speaker made this known while speaking to international delegates attending the 149th General Debate of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.
With the theme, “Harnessing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future,” Kalu said the actions of Nigeria’s legislative and executive arms clearly reflect the country’s commitment to harnessing STI.
Giving historical perspective to support this, he said, “In 2022, Nigeria’s parliament passed the Nigeria Startup Act, a landmark legislation aimed at engineering a conducive environment for technology and innovation startups. The Act provides a legal framework that supports innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation in our country, helping STI startups to thrive. This law also emphasizes public-private partnerships, knowledge transfer, and incentives for investments in emerging technologies.
Building on this momentum, he said the government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now working towards the adoption of a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Framework.
Led by the coungtry’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, this policy is expected to pave the way for the ethical use of AI in addressing key challenges, from automating agricultural processes to enhancing healthcare delivery.
“We envision a future where AI optimizes wage employment, rather than undermine it, ensuring that automation leads to job creation rather than destruction.
“As digital transformation accelerates, the rise of AI brings both opportunities and challenges. In Nigeria, AI is emerging as a powerful tool in sectors such as governance, financial services, and public administration. Yet, as with any technological leap, we must be mindful of the risks,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “Artificial Intelligence, while enhancing efficiency, raises concerns about data protection, misinformation, and job displacement. The integrity of universal electoral processes is a global imperative and recent developments in Artificial Intelligence are posing threats to this, especially the spread of disinformation and cyber vulnerabilities in election systems.”
Irrespective of this, Kalu said Nigeria continues to support international efforts to develop inclusive, transparent, and ethical AI frameworks that protect human rights and democratic values.
“We call for AI’s responsible use to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes, particularly against threats such as deepfakes and the spread of disinformation,” the parliamentarian said.
