Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, President and Chairperson of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), has underscored the imperative for Nigeria to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) not just as a technological innovation but as a catalyst for transformative change in governance and public sector management.
This perspective was shared during ICSAN’s 49th Annual Conference in Lagos, where the integration of AI into contemporary governance frameworks was a central theme.
In her introductory address, Ukpanah praised the nigeria-debt-crisis-speaker-abbas-alert/” title=”Urgent Alert: Speaker Abbas R…ses the Alarm as ……s Debt Skyrockets to N149 Trillion!”>conference’s theme, ‘Re-imagining Governance: Navigating the Artificial Intelligence Revolution for Excellence,’ as both relevant and urgent in today’s context.
She emphasized, “Artificial Intelligence is no longer a concept of the future; it is actively shaping our present. From digital assistants to advanced predictive analytics, AI’s influence is evident, and it is crucial to explore its profound effects on governance and national progress.”
Ukpanah also highlighted ICSAN’s distinguished history, noting that as Nigeria’s sole statutory body for Chartered Secretaries and governance experts, the Institute has been a steadfast advocate for sound corporate governance for nearly six decades.
She portrayed the conference as a vital forum for exchanging ideas, reflecting on policy, and gaining professional insights, particularly on cutting-edge topics like AI that are revolutionizing governance worldwide. She cited examples such as South Korea’s use of AI in managing smart cities, enhancing healthcare diagnostics, and improving public safety by lowering crime rates in urban parks.
Stressing the urgency for Nigeria to keep pace, Ukpanah called for leveraging AI to modernize public service delivery, refine electoral processes, enhance financial transparency, and bolster data integrity within government agencies.
On the subject of regulation, she referenced the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and its General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) as foundational frameworks.
She explained, “The GAID offers crucial regulatory guidance for the ethical use of emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and the Internet of Things. This framework provides a legal and institutional foundation to ensure AI implementations uphold data privacy and protect individual rights.”
While acknowledging AI’s advantages, Ukpanah cautioned against its potential drawbacks. She stressed, “Technology must remain a tool that serves humanity, not the other way around.”
Highlighting concerns like breaches of data privacy, algorithmic discrimination, and job displacement, she elaborated on ICSAN’s initiative to unite professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders to responsibly integrate AI within Nigeria’s unique socio-political landscape.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Femi Oyenuga, Group Executive Director at Chams Holding Company, who framed AI as a pivotal moment in governance rather than merely a technological upgrade. He urged governance experts to embrace a dual role: facilitating the positive adoption of AI while instituting measures that guarantee accountability, transparency, and inclusivity.
Dr. Oyenuga introduced a strategic model based on three pillars: Stewardship, Accountability, and Capability, designed to guide organizations through AI integration. He acknowledged some advancements nationally but pointed out critical deficiencies, noting, “Although the private sector is actively engaging with AI, our capacity for effective algorithmic oversight remains insufficient.”
He further recommended bold initiatives such as conducting AI Impact Assessments, establishing governance policies at the board level, and founding an ICSAN Centre for Digital Governance to spearhead these efforts.
