One Artificial Intelligence expert, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, don urge Nigeria say make di country deploy AI to strengthen national security, public safety and policymaking. He make di call on Wednesday for di Eighth Lagos State University Research and Innovation Fair. Adeyanju na Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Ltd, one government-owned information and communication technology organisation. His technical assistant, Dr Kazeem Suliamon, represent am for di event. He speak on how to harness artificial intelligence in security, safety and policy transformation.
He talk say Nigeria security wahala – terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, trafficking and infrastructure vandalism – need sophisticated data and intelligence capabilities. According to am, AI fit support security agencies through predictive analytics, threat detection, cyber defence and improved situational awareness. But e caution say make nobody treat AI like technology wey fit predict crime with certainty. ‘AI should provide security professionals with better information, earlier warning and stronger analytical capability. However, final security decisions must remain with appropriately authorised human professionals,’ he talk.
Adeyanju also point to policymaking as area where AI fit get significant transformative impact. E say AI fit analyse large datasets and model possible outcomes. AI fit simulate policy interventions, evaluate government programmes and optimise how scarce resources dey allocated. ‘The capabilities can help move public administration from reactive policymaking to predictive, evidence-based and adaptive decision-making. However, AI should inform public policy; it should not replace public accountability,’ e yarn.
He advocate say make Nigeria shift from ‘build first, protect later’ approach to developing AI systems securely and responsibly from inception. He list purpose limitation, data minimisation, lawful processing, data quality, security safeguards, transparency and accountability as some measures wey responsible AI deployment need. On data quality, Adeyanju identify incomplete, inaccurate or biased datasets as major challenges wey fit produce unreliable or discriminatory AI outcomes. He say Nigeria need trusted datasets wey reflect im languages, geography, cultures, economic realities, institutions and security challenges.
Di professor express concern over deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation. He warn say fabricated audio and manipulated videos fit be weaponised. ‘Fake emergency messages can create panic, manipulate elections or impersonate public officials and other individuals. Nigeria will increasingly require digital forensics, AI-generated content detection, cybersecurity, public awareness and digital media literacy. However, AI can deepen inequality, if the country fails to address its digital divide,’ he talk.
Adeyanju urge Nigerian universities, including LASU, to become centres for developing AI solutions to local challenges. He say universities suppose move beyond teaching students how to use existing AI tools and focus more on developing indigenous solutions. He propose research programmes on AI for urban safety, flood prediction, healthcare, agriculture, cybersecurity and public policy. ‘These are not simply academic exercises. They can become national assets,’ e talk. He also call for stronger collaboration among government, universities and industry to close research-to-market gap. Government, according to am, suppose present national challenges as research problems, while universities develop solutions and industry supports commercialisation and scaling. ‘Government should also become an early adopter of appropriate locally developed solutions,’ he add.
He say Galaxy Backbone ready to partner with universities and other institutions in building infrastructure required for AI-enabled Nigeria. Adeyanju urge universities to establish practical AI transformation programmes covering research, innovation, governance, commercialisation and national development. He say Nigeria need people wey fit research, build, secure and govern AI, including data scientists, cybersecurity professionals and AI ethicists.
Earlier, Dean, LASU Postgraduate School, Prof. Ibrahim Olateju, declare final day of di fair open on behalf of Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello. Olateju describe di event as defining platform for scholarship, innovation and enterprise. He say di fair don become living tradition wey reinforce LASU position as hub for research, innovation and national development.
