“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy and complacency; this is a time for vigorous and positive action.”

Mr. Aigboje added that Dr. Herbert’s legacy lies in what he was about to begin: “a collaborative commitment to building an African continent we’ll all be proud of.” Concluding, he urged, “In honour of Herbert, let that work begin now.”

At the start of the decade, I (boldly) expected Africa to become the next crucible of world technological innovation. This expectation was rooted in the correlation between population size and innovation levels. Consider how new tools and techniques, from the Agricultural to the Industrial Revolution, dramatically increased the worldwide human population even as larger and more connected populations became more potent incubators for discovery. Africa’s population is growing exponentially — even as global populations crater. Indeed, countries like Japan, Germany and Italy are approaching a working-age population crisis. So, by 2030, Africans will make up more than half of the new entrants into the global workforce. A prediction I made before AI burst onto the scene.

Midway through the decade, I realize I may have been wildly optimistic. On current trends, we won’t just miss the opportunity to lead global tech innovation; we risk being left behind by the AI revolution. Something, I believe, we mustn’t allow to happen. Our lack of connectivity, owed in no small measure, to our failure to capitalise on the the last wave — underinvestment in fibre-optic connections, and an abysmally small number of data centres — has come back to bite us. As The Economist put it, we lack the 20th-century infrastructure needed to thrive in the 21st.

Behind all this lies a klaxon for African leaders to “git up, git out and git something” much like the OutKast chorus. A capitalist revolution is needed. Our leaders from Burkina Faso to Botswana must embrace entrepreneurship and open markets, breaking with a past characterized by planned economies, and military coups. What’s more, our blind adoption of policy recommendations by think tanks, absent critical thought needs to stop. Whether it’s mimicking the worst of Chinese state capitalism or replicating World Bank prescriptions verbatim, failing to adapt strategies to local realities has held us back for too long. Equally plausible is the need for an elite pact in favour of economic growth, described by Prof. Stefan Dercon as development bargains.

Just like the rest of the world, Africa needs to take off. I’m painfully aware that we slipped further behind — even as America, Europe and Asia were transformed — during the last wave of technology. The consequences of a similar failure will be much grimmer. A pick-up in Africa’s poverty headcount augurs trouble. Confronted with the fierce urgency of now, we must act fast because all this will take time — time we don’t have.

That’s no discredit to technology; it just shows that what looks — in theory — harmless could play out very differently in the real world. How others utilize your innovation, however well-intentioned isn’t guaranteed — especially when it is copied and further adapted downstream. The threat here may lie not so much with negative actors unleashing mayhem worldwide as in credible and well-intentioned efforts gone wrong. Gain-of-function research failures are instructive examples. Call them “revenge effects”: random, unforeseen negative events resulting from technology’s collision with society. Unfortunately, not everyone shares those virtuous intentions of creating a better world. Some organizations are even founded with precisely the opposite motivation.

On May 12th 2017, the NHS was hit by a ransomware attack called WannaCry. The effects were disastrous: all IT systems froze; over 19,000 medical appointments were cancelled; The Royal London Hospital shuttered its emergency department, leaving patients lying on gurneys outside the operating theatres. Ominously, that wasn’t all. By exploiting a vulnerability in older Microsoft systems, WannaCry ground swaths of the digital world to a halt. Luckily, no deaths were officially confirmed but the ensuing damage costs were about $8 billion. Ultimately, the NHS — and indeed the digital world — caught a lucky break. Marcus Hutchins, a British computer researcher stumbled on a kill switch, controlling the virus until Microsoft pushed out updates closing the vulnerability.

Luckily, the ransomware attack relied on conventional cyberweapons, ensuring its power and potential were relatively limited. But it is a matter of when, not if, the next attack will occur, and next time we may not be so lucky. What if, thanks to Machine Learning, WannaCry evolved to exploit further weaknesses? Pause and imagine that this AI-enabled system started hitting every hospital, life support system, energy grid, and financial database — while learning to detect and stop further attempts to shut it down. Nowhere is this terrifying potential more vividly realized than in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning with The Entity.

In my last article, I argued that AI is fundamentally labour-replacing. My argument stemmed from my belief that AI is unlike any other technology; it is the wellspring itself — the technology underwriting others. In this article, I paint a slightly grimier picture: absent strong methods of containment, ranging from Responsible AI development to proactive government legislation, we risk creating an Entity-like system that could exploit our interconnected digital infrastructure to pursue its objectives. Humanity, like Denlinger, would then be at the mercy of algorithms that we don’t understand.

However, even before we get there, a lot could go wrong. AI will be the greatest force amplifier in history. This means anyone with goals — that is everyone — has been given a shot in the arm. Although I have focused on the risks, this technology will improve countless lives daily. And it’s tempting to dismiss my fears as the far-off visions of someone who’s spent too much of his teenage years watching Black Mirror. Tempting, but a colossal mistake.

We’ve seen that bad actors, like the Lazarus Group that created WannaCry, can do serious damage, igniting mass instability. Now imagine when any half-competent research lab can release a state-of-the-art AI. How long before disaster strikes? As we’ve seen with Deepseek, the costs of developing these technologies are falling — even as capabilities increase. As AI percolates everywhere, something will eventually go wrong — at a scale and speed commensurate with the power unleashed.

That means every possible motivation you can think of is dramatically enhanced by having AI in your corner. Purifying and poisoning the water supply are both more achievable. This augurs trouble.

Yet we need the benefits of this technology. We need to find ways of replacing workers as global populations fall. We have to find more sustainable ways of producing food even as yields decline in the face of climate change. Equally distressing is the need to deliver ever more expensive healthcare to ageing populations beset with chronic intractable conditions. We need technology. We need AI.

So, a moratorium on developing AI isn’t a way out; it’s an invitation to another dystopia. Across the board, interventions are needed. Technologists like me, need to build technology in an entirely different way, with tools and techniques that don’t exist yet. External scrutiny has never been more essential to technology. Right now, neither the institutions nor the standardized assessments for ensuring that AI adheres to commonly agreed benchmarks exist. A Klaxon for those in the regulatory capitals of Abuja, Brussels and Beijing. We need to keep humanity in the driver’s seat when a technology risks causing as much harm as it promises progress.

While AI has justifiably hogged most headlines, a penumbra of technologies — each powerful in its own right — has been growing at a blistering pace. Mostly out of the public eye, AI has been pollinating a powerful suite of genetic technologies and robotics. Described by Mustafa Suleyman as The Coming Wave, all the promise (and peril) of AI is only amplified when viewing the panorama: an intricate choreography of robotics, quantum computing, biotechnology, and of course, AI will reset the rules of what we think is possible. Thus, concerns are legion. Betraying the fragility of our nation-states (more on this later), no AI policy debate has been given more airtime than the future of work.

Is AI coming for our jobs? Short answer: yes, it is. Many economists will argue against my stance, stating that I’m buying into the ‘lump of labour’ fallacy, an erroneous belief that the amount of work in an economy is fixed. Instead, millions of more jobs will be created as AI inexorably makes companies more productive. And their argument holds water. After all, as industrial companies went bust in Ogun State, demand for designers, software engineers and lawyers surged in Lagos. So far at least, agreeing with my brother, Samuel Abolo, automation hasn’t replaced our jobs; they have in the aggregate complemented it. But given the protean complexity and the exponential pace of AI development, I don’t think it will remain so for long.

I strongly believe AI is fundamentally labour-replacing and poignantly, it scales the ladder of human cognitive ability. Pause for a moment and imagine what this technology can do. At the tap of a button, you can consult an on-demand expert, ask about your thorny product design gig or get a second opinion on what your crooked mechanic in Mushin told you. Yet researchers see more and more evidence for “the scaling hypothesis,” which predicts that the main driver of progress in AI development is to go bigger. Put simply, as the mass of data, parameters, and compute power used to train these models increase, they’ll keep improving — with no obvious ceiling in sight. If the scaling hypothesis holds, and I think it will, there’s a grim inevitability about what this means. These models will eventually perform tasks I like to describe as cognitive manual labour, more efficiently and more cheaply than many people working in customer service (including making and receiving phone calls), data entry and so on. If organizations find more efficient ways of getting stuff done, they will (even if it means retrenching workers). And all this is before you even get into the implications of something like the Modern Turing Test and Robotics.

Of course, new job categories will be created. Someone in 1988 would have been incredulous at the idea of working as a social media influencer or podcast host. Yet in 2025, those roles exist for better or worse. But my best guess is that new jobs won’t come in the timescale needed to help. Even if it does, who’s to say that a human will be needed for the job?

And as bad as that sounds, it could get worse — for nation-states. What happens to government finances when the revenue from income taxes vanishes along with the jobs? We could see governments stretched thin, struggling to fund public services like healthcare, education and infrastructure. Add to that, the persistent relationship between high unemployment figures and crime. Nigeria is an instructive example.

So, in other words, thanks to a failure of containment (maintaining control of powerful technologies to prevent dystopian outcomes), we become a victim of our supposedly beneficial technology. This is a theme that will resonate with anyone who’s seen Ex-Machina. All of this augurs trouble.

Yet as I subtly alluded to earlier, there’s so much more to bother about than just AI.

Reflecting on the past year, I’m filled with gratitude, not least for being alive. As Dostoevsky poetically put it, “In thousands of agonies—I exist. I’m tormented on the rack—but I exist! Though I sit alone on a pillar—I exist!” You exist! Amid the hand-wringing about our failure to meet preset goals and our financial miasmas—owed in no small part to the dire economic straits of our country—it’s easy to overlook the most important blessing of all: we are alive. It’s the basis for one of our most lasting folk wisdom: When there’s life, there’s hope.

Yet milestones, achievements, and celebrations over the past year suggest I have more to be grateful for: discovered a latent passion and skill, was awarded ₦50,000 for winning the joint essay competition titled “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Efficient Tax Administration in Nigeria: A Path to Sustainable Revenue Generation” organised by GDSC Babcock and The Tax Club, Babcock University, graduated with a stellar CGPA, was selected as one of the discussants to speak at the NPD Assembly Let’s Talk event organised by Babatunde Raji Fashola CON SAN, and discerned my purpose thanks to the Holy Spirit.

The list above is certainly not exhaustive, but I’d be disingenuous if I said that has been the story of my entire year. Admittedly, on the flip side, the past six months have been mired in deep-seated anxiety; I have been nervous, impulsive and fractious. My persistent unease was partly due to the fears and concerns espoused by most recent graduates—questions about job opportunities and whether we’ll truly make the impact we hope for — and partly due to the repercussions of my ill-thought actions.

Going into the new year, I know I’ll be beset by a slew of major challenges gnawing at my faith, and confidence while raising existential impostor syndrome questions. I don’t expect 2025 to be easy. Far from it. However, from experience, I know achieving the extraordinary isn’t a linear process—dealing with the temporary frustration of not making progress is integral to excellence. What’s more, achieving the long-term results I desire will require quality long-term focus. No doubt. To quote Maximus Decimus Meridius from the movie Gladiator, “Nothing happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear.”

Therefore, I have dedicated this coming year to learning, seeking to bridge the knowledge gulf between my lofty ideas and my current state. To work conscientiously, tirelessly, and selflessly. To refuse to accept anything less than my best. To continue to live a life of service, giving without expectations. And lastly, to face disappointments stoically—drawing from the well of Romans 8:28.

So help me, God. Amen

I wish you a smashing year ahead, a cornucopia of blessings, and joy without parallels. Very importantly, I urge you to live, laugh, and love.

I definitely wouldn’t try to distil Herbert’s life into about 400 words, nor would I attempt to review Aigboje’s book. Even if I tried, it still wouldn’t be as exceptional as Andrew Alli’s review. I will however share my perspectives on Nigeria’s prosperity based on the insights I gleaned from this enlightening opus.

That established, Aigboje immersed us in a rollercoaster ride detailing how a harrowing experience at the airport — being left stranded on the tarmac as his flight took off — fueled his bold vision and persistence in taking Access Bank from obscurity to Africa’s most respected bank. But a particular paragraph piqued my curiosity and will underpin this write-up.

Beyond bribes, leakages, and theft of public funds, the truly debilitating consequence of corruption is the fact that in any nation where corruption is rife, merit cannot have its way. In a globalised world, the ability of individuals, companies, industries, and entire nations to grow and develop on a sustainable basis is a function of their competitiveness. Corruption has implanted the virus of mediocrity in several aspects of Nigerian life to the point where our performance in many fields of endeavour is much worse today than it was fifty years ago.

The average Nigerian thinks they are better than their leaders, but there is glaring evidence to the contrary. In fact, we are a reflection of the leaders we have. Take a random group with a leader — whether it’s an estate residents’ association, a school departmental association, or even, sadly, a religious group — and you’ll realize the only difference is the political title. They are us, and we most certainly are them.

Competition is a catalyst for growth in any country, particularly one with an aggressive populace like ours. But the virus of mediocrity introduced into our body by corruption has become our albatross. For instance, many students refuse to work hard to ace their exams because they could collude with lecturers to pass. Amongst other negative effects, it deprives us of human capital which is arguably our competitive advantage in today’s dynamic world.

If our industries and the civil service are starved of talent, industries will be deprived of the human capital needed to thrive and compete with their peers abroad, and our civil service will lack the necessary regulatory oversight. It’s no surprise we’re in a black hole today.

While collaboration across the board is a must, the future of growth in Nigeria lies at the subnational level, particularly within the states. I say so because if you take a trip around the 36 states, the disparate levels of development even among states that receive about the same federal allocation transfers is proof that governance at the State and Local level deserves a lot more scrutiny than it currently receives. States and Local Governments need to be more autonomous, and concomitantly more innovative.

We need to devolve power to the regions and states. Until the states reduce their dependence on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the status quo will remain. Without incentives for subnational governments to act responsibly and innovatively, many will not be compelled to.

I believe the competition among states is our low-hanging fruit if we have any hopes of not being left on the tarmac while other countries takeoff fueled by developments in technology, sustainable environmental practices and more.

The old order changeth, yielding place to new, And God fulfils Himself in many ways.

This was certainly the mood, at least on the morning of Inauguration Day. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria after a keenly contested election, succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari. I think JJ. Omojuwa summed up the latter’s administration better than I ever could:

We will get a new president as President Muhammadu Buhari is finally eased off a job that he obsessively sought for over a decade, got it and made it look like it was forced on him.

The inaugural address is usually the day’s pinnacle, where the newly sworn-in President unveils his governing vision. President Tinubu began by expressing his honour at assuming the presidency and acknowledging his predecessor’s contributions. However, he then ad-libbed a statement, which combined with other impulsive initiatives, has inflicted severe hardship on Nigerians and made his administration appear clueless and confused: “Fuel subsidy is gone”.

While I concur with Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah who suggested after a private visit to the President that one year isn’t enough to assess his time in office fully, I believe one year is sufficient enough for his administration to gain traction, and to determine where immediate adjustments are necessary to make the most of the time left.

Regardless of his preferences, the President’s tenure will be assessed primarily by the significant effect two of his key policies have had: the fuel subsidy removal and the floatation of the Naira. Without a doubt, the state of the economy leading up to his inauguration necessitated both reforms.

According to the NNPC, Nigeria’s petrol subsidy cost the nation $10 billion in 2022, creating several major issues: Despite high oil prices, the subsidy meant Nigeria earned less foreign currency because it exchanged crude oil for petrol rather than selling it for dollars, weakening our external reserves. Additionally, subsidising petrol was increasingly unsustainable and suboptimal. These two miasmas were compounded by a third: the limited foreign currency reserves resulted in dollar rationing at subsidised rates, which encouraged a black market and discouraged Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) — which Nigeria critically needs.

So, within weeks of his inauguration, the fuel subsidy was removed and the Naira floated. While he rightly received applause for having the political cojones to make such bold calls, good intentions can be undermined by poor execution. Given the current state of the economy, these policies now appear, at worst, poorly planned and executed, and at best, suffering from significant time lag issues.

Nigerians were yet to recover from the increase in pump prices when the currency was floated, betraying a short-sighted analysis by his team. Because most final and intermediate goods used in Nigeria are imported, the attendant prices of items across the board have skyrocketed.

As expected, the impact of the reforms has been harsh and unsparing. Today, the naira after showing signs of fighting back (due to reforms of the CBN Governor) has now depreciated to N1470, and N1530 from N460.72 and N780 at the official and parallel markets, respectively, since Inauguration Day. Experts posit things might improve with more foreign currency inflows, but the way the Naira was floated without a plan was a colossal error. Perhaps more importantly, the price of petrol now sells for N860. Given that Nigerians rely heavily on petrol for their quotidian activities such as transportation and electricity — highlighting another glaring governance failure — this price hike has led to a substantial increase in the cost of living. This has compounded the economic woes of Nigerians, making daily life increasingly difficult.

Even more sad, the much-demonized petrol subsidy is back under a different cloak. Earlier, I alluded to our dependence on imports for most items (including petrol) thus petrol prices have soared from N185 to over N800 per litre. This jump isn’t just because of higher crude oil prices; it’s mainly due to the continuous fall of the Naira. In the interest of the already ailing masses, the government had no choice but to freeze petrol prices, despite the Naira’s ongoing decline. Even without an official announcement, everyone can see that the petrol subsidy is back. It doesn’t make sense for petrol prices to stay the same regardless of currency fluctuations.

Despite these challenges, his administration has achieved significant progress that Nigerians have well-received. The Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund has driven key projects in agriculture and aviation. Notable projects include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the Sokoto-Badagry Road, and the Port-Harcourt to Aba section of the Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri rail. Moreover, the launch of the Consumer Credit Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which aims to provide all indigent Nigerian students with access to higher education, are important milestones. These initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to national development and improving citizens’ lives.

Still, most Nigerians suffer. President Tinubu has his work cut out for him. There is a limit to how much pain Nigerians can endure, and he can’t claim they haven’t been patient. I urge him to re-examine his cabinet, take a hard inward look, and press forward with more effective solutions.

The committee was mandated to enhance efficiency in revenue collection, ensure transparency in reporting and promote the effective utilisation of tax revenues among other priorities. Its objectives situated around three pillars: Fiscal Governance, Revenue Transformation, and Economic Growth facilitation was further streamlined into milestones and extensive stakeholder engagement and consultations have ensued. The committee submitted a ‘Quick Win Report’ to Mr. President in October of last year, outlining achievable goals within 30 days. This report included sweeping recommendations such as tax breaks to the private sector regarding wage increases for low-income workers, suspension of Value Added Tax on diesel and tax waivers on Compressed Natural Gas, and renewable energy items. Remarkably, it also proposed the implementation of the “Data4Tax” technology championed by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) to expand the tax net. This remarkable recommendation serves as the focal point of this essay.

The Data4Tax (D4T) initiative aims to gather all financial and non-financial information about individuals and economic transactions. This data will be stored in a central National Tax Data Bank, with the National Identification Number (NIN) as the main identifier. This was proposed in 2022, however, implementation had stalled due to a paucity of funds. The re-commencement of this project is encouraging but I posit that the D4T initiative be further enhanced with Artificial Intelligence, an innovation which Barack Obama described as “a breakthrough technology that has the power to change the world in ways we’re only beginning to understand”. Data4Tax (D4T), if integrated with this novel technology (AI) and implemented appropriately, has the potential to address some of the unique challenges faced by our tax system — large informal sector, low tax compliance rates, and inefficient tax collection processes. By leveraging the National Identification Number (NIN), D4T could identify individuals and businesses currently outside the tax net, potentially increasing tax revenue. Automated data analysis and risk assessment driven by AI and powered by this initiative could also identify inconsistencies in tax filings, leading to better detection of tax evasion. The centralised data storage provided by the National Tax Data Bank could significantly reduce administrative burdens such as data collection and verification amongst others. However, we must acknowledge the ethical concerns that accompany this initiative.

The D4T initiative, despite its potential benefits, raises significant ethical concerns. The most pressing issue is the potential violation of privacy. The centralised storage of sensitive data, including financial information and personal details, creates a prime target for cybercriminals. Furthermore, concerns about bias and fairness in Artificial Intelligence algorithms remain valid. Addressing these ethical concerns through robust data security measures, transparent AI development, and adherent compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023 is crucial before implementing the D4T initiative.

To culminate this piece, I doubt any Nigerian wants anything less than a prosperous economy that works for all. This shared aspiration, however, is contingent on very important financial reforms particularly surrounding Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The D4T initiative enhanced with AI presents a potential solution but its effectiveness hinges on overcoming several encumbrances such as public trust, robust digital infrastructure, and concerns around algorithmic bias. The question that lingers, however, is whether Nigeria is prepared to take this bold step towards efficient tax administration augmented by Artificial Intelligence, ensuring it empowers not just the government, but also safeguards the rights and privacy of its citizens. The answer will determine the path Nigeria takes towards sustainable revenue generation.

This piece won the essay competition organized by GDSC Babcock and The Tax Club Babcock University with the topic “Leveraging AI for Efficient Tax Administration in Nigeria: A Path to Sustainable Revenue Generation”

We have Osimhen, so we have a chance.

However, I’ve witnessed nothing short of a transformation in this team. A team few, including myself, expected much from now stands at the cusp of glory.

On Wednesday, the Super Eagles triumphed over Bafana Bafana in a penalty shoot-out after a closely contested game which kept us on the edge of our seats. After Tyla won the Grammy Award for “Best African Music Performance” this week, we figured it was our duty to avenge that loss, sprinkle in some banter, and how could I forget? Drag Ghana.

All attention now turns to the final on Sunday when we’ll be up against the hosts — a resurrected Ivory Coast side. Many felt the thrashing at the hands of Equatorial Guinea foreshadowed their death and burial but somehow, they were given a new lease on life by Morocco. Upon resurrection, they seemed to ascend, triumphing over Senegal (defending champions) and miraculously beating Mali despite being a man and goal down. A journey which reads like a script from a fairy tale.

I still believe the Super Eagles are firm favourites to lift the trophy on Sunday despite Ivory Coast’s somewhat wondrous run. Nigerians need a glimmer of hope from somewhere. This prospective victory holds immense importance for Nigeria, arriving at a critical moment when the nation grapples not only with the rising costs of essential goods and pervasive insecurity but also with the alarming depreciation of the Naira against the dollar.

Football continues to be a unifying factor in our multireligious and ethnically diverse nation. Even the most skeptical Nigerians find themselves swept up in the collective hope for a Super Eagles triumph. Here’s to wishing the team the very best this Sunday. #LetsDoItAgain

No prices for guessing what that innovation is. It’s Artificial Intelligence (AI). If you’re one of those very rare creatures on the planet who for some reason haven’t interacted with or even heard of Generative AI or even basically, AI, then I must say you’re in a great position to give us a lecture on minding the business that pays you. I say this because Artificial Intelligence has dominated discourses since the release of ChatGPT on the 30th of November, 2022. The advent of ChatGPT has led to several conversations surrounding AI, its use cases, advantages and surprisingly, its very adverse effects.

So, what is Artificial Intelligence?

Very few people know John McCarthy, a visionary thinker whose academic inquiries laid the foundation for the incredible and somewhat insane advancements we’re witnessing today, earning him the title of “father of AI”. Even fewer people know he coined the term “Artificial Intelligence”. However, what I find most remarkable about this scholar is his definition of AI.

Artificial Intelligence is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines

I find his definition very noteworthy because it boiled down AI to its core, showed its value, and gave it a strong start. AI involves teaching computers to think and learn like humans. Very simply, think of AI as having a really smart son or daughter who can understand things, learn from experience and make decisions based on historical data. Since John McCarthy defined this concept in 1956, it has grown exponentially, even faster than we predicted. We’ve seen exceptional milestones such as image and speech recognition, self-driving cars, and the possibility of Artificial General Intelligence — a form of artificial intelligence that exhibits human-like cognitive abilities across diverse tasks. So, what does all this mean for our very fascinating country, Nigeria?

Agriculture and Food Security

I concur with several researchers who posit that AI could be the reinforcement we need to augment this critical sector. Without a meticulously devised strategy and roadmap for the sector by the Federal and State Governments, this sector has thrived, becoming Nigeria’s largest employer of labour. The pressing need for innovation and a thorough blueprint in this sector is made even more evident when considering the cost of food surged by 33.93 percent in December 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year.

AI could aid farmers and the agencies providing oversight in a couple of ways which I’d share. With AI, farmers can use precision farming to make sure they’re using their land and resources just right, which helps them increase crop yields and reduce expenses. This technology could also play a crucial role in assisting farmers in coping with rapid climate changes by providing accurate weather forecasts and smart strategies for addressing them. From a governmental standpoint, it empowers more informed policy decisions using data-driven insights, optimizing resource allocation and boosting overall productivity. I believe this should be a key focus of AI research in Nigeria, given our food insecurity.

Healthcare

Nigeria comprises several tribes and dialects giving it a very eclectic cultural heritage. Growing up in Port Harcourt and travelling to Ilisan-Remo for educational purposes made me realize and appreciate our diversity a lot more. Despite not being from there, it helped me value the Yoruba culture so much. A Yoruba proverb that holds deep meaning for me is:

Ilera l’Ogun Oro

Translated to English, it means “Health is wealth”. However trite or cliche it appears, its’ profound meaning remains undiminished. I definitely won’t focus on the sad intricacies present in our healthcare sector: from unpaid benefits to inadequate facilities and a lot more. That has already been copiously documented even before Obatala created the dry land for us to inhabit.

Rather, I want to share my thoughts on how a slow, nuanced and consistent integration of AI could reshape our healthcare industry. Amidst many other benefits, this tech will accelerate the rate of medical breakthroughs, I state this because the vast amount of biological data is challenging for humans to manage. Thankfully, these AI models can analyze this data, understand how biological systems function, identify pathways, target pathogens, and to my surprise design drugs.

Education

Certainly, the first thought for many will likely be ChatGPT. What if I asserted that’s only the beginning? In the next few years, AI could well fulfill its promise of revolutionizing education. Recognizing your interests and learning style, it can customize content to keep you engaged. The software gauges your comprehension, detects waning interest, and identifies the motivational approach that resonates with you. Crazy right? Yes.

While most of my suggestions may seem ambitious or even far-fetched given our current national standing, I’m confident it is feasible. This sentiment underscores my admiration for the National Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme, an initiative by Dr Bosun Tijani, the Federal Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to encourage AI research in several fields with up to Five Million Naira for 45 successful AI researchers or startups.

Conclusion: Navigating Risks

Nigeria’s embrace of AI carries immense potential but also harbours hidden dangers. From job displacement due to automation to the exacerbation of social inequalities through biased algorithms, AI’s impact demands cautious navigation. Robust data governance, ethical development, and inclusive access are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure AI empowers, rather than further divides our already volatile society.

My AI Picks: What I’ve Been Reading, Watching, and Listening to

The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century’s Greatest Dilemma by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar

The Age of AI has begun by Bill Gates

Futureproof: 9 Rules for Surviving in the Age of AI by Kevin Roose

Obama on AI, free speech, and the future of the internet

Chris Lattner: Future of Programming and AI via Lex Fridman Podcast