The president and chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Directors of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mrs Uto Ukpanah, has emphasised the essential want for Nigeria to embrace Synthetic Intelligence (AI) not merely as a technological device, however as a transformational pressure in governance and public administration.
This assertion was made at ICSAN’s forty ninth Annual Convention held in Lagos, the place AI’s position in trendy governance was a focus of dialogue.
In her opening remarks, Ukpanah described the convention theme, ‘Re-imagining Governance: Navigating the Synthetic Intelligence Revolution for Excellence,’ as well timed and mandatory.
She remarked, “Synthetic Intelligence isn’t a futuristic fantasy however a gift actuality. We’re already experiencing its influence in on a regular basis purposes from digital assistants to predictive techniques, and we should now contemplate its deeper implications for governance and nationwide improvement.”
Ukpanah highlighted ICSAN’s legacy, stating that the Institute, as a statutorily recognised physique and Nigeria’s solely authorised institute for Chartered Secretaries and governance professionals, has championed accountable company governance for practically sixty years.
She described the convention as a strategic platform for dialogue, coverage reflection, {and professional} perception, particularly on rising points like AI which are reshaping governance globally. She added that, “AI has already been deployed in sensible metropolis administration, healthcare diagnostics, and public security in South Korea. AI helps to cut back crime charges in city parks.”
The president of the institute urged Nigeria to not lag, stressing that, the nation must harness AI to modernise public service supply, enhance electoral techniques, guarantee monetary accountability, and strengthen knowledge integrity in authorities establishments.
Addressing the regulatory framework, Ukpanah referenced the Nigeria Information Safety Act (NDPA), and its Basic Utility and Implementation Directive (GAID), as important instruments.
She acknowledged that, “The GAID supplies important regulatory readability on the moral deployment of rising applied sciences like AI, blockchain, and IoT. This affords us a authorized and institutional pathway to make sure that AI purposes stay grounded in knowledge safety and respect for particular person rights.”
Regardless of the advantages of AI, Ukpanah warned of its potential pitfalls. She cautioned that, “We should be sure that expertise serves humanity not the opposite method round.”
Whereas citing dangers reminiscent of knowledge privateness violations, algorithmic bias, and human displacement, she defined why ICSAN is bringing collectively professionals, policymakers and thought leaders to form how AI could be utilized responsibly in our distinctive nationwide context.
The keynote speaker, group govt director at Chams Holding Firm, Dr Femi Oyenuga, who additionally spoke on AI’s transformative position, described it as a governance inflexion level moderately than simply one other technological development. He referred to as on governance professionals to take up a twin accountability enabling useful AI adoption whereas embedding safeguards that guarantee accountability, transparency and inclusion.
Dr Oyenuga introduced a three-pillar framework: Stewardship, Accountability, and Functionality, as a information for establishments navigating AI adoption. He acknowledged some nationwide progress however identified vital gaps, stating that, ‘whereas the non-public sector is exhibiting robust curiosity in AI, our institutional capability for algorithmic oversight stays restricted.’
Equally, he advocated daring reforms, together with AI Influence Assessments, board-level governance insurance policies and the creation of an ICSAN Centre for Digital Governance.
