Emma Okonji
Industry stakeholders across policy makers, legal practitioners, regulators, technology experts, academics, and civil society organisations have called for a collaborative approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance in Nigeria to unlock the country’s digital economy while safeguarding citizens’ rights.
The call was made at the 2026 AI Summit, hosted by T&A Legal Lagos, where the summit theme tagged: ‘Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria: Balancing Regulation and Innovation,’ was discussed.
Delivering the welcome address, Co-founding Partner of T&A Legal, Oluseyi Adisa said while countries across the world were still experimenting with governance models, Nigeria has a unique opportunity to develop an AI framework tailored to its realities.
Adisa added that while AI would present enormous economic opportunities, with projections indicating it could contribute billions of dollars to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and transform agriculture, healthcare, education, governance and other critical sectors, these gains must be supported by appropriate safeguards against emerging risks.
“Nigeria’s AI governance framework must not be imported wholesale from another jurisdiction. It must be evidence-based, innovation-friendly, accountable, and designed to reflect our national realities. Our goal is to strike the right balance between protecting citizens and enabling businesses to innovate and thrive,” Adisa said.
Speaking at the summit, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Salisu, said Nigeria has made remarkable progress in artificial intelligence and digital governance, positioning the country ahead of many African nations.
He explained that the proposed legislation seeks to establish clear governance structures for AI systems, including regulatory sandboxes, risk-based classifications, accountability mechanisms and safeguards that encourage innovation while protecting public interest.