Ronald Kayanja, Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, underscored the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in accelerating the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speaking in Lagos on May 7, 2024, during the inaugural session of the 5th Lagos Secondary Schools Model United Nations (LASSMUN), which drew participation from over 3000 delegates, Kayanja emphasized the transformative potential of AI in addressing approximately 80 percent of the SDGs, as indicated by a 2023 report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Represented by Oluseyi Soremekun, the National Information Officer of UNIC, Kayanja elucidated on the multifaceted benefits of AI across diverse sectors. He highlighted AI’s capacity to forecast weather patterns, enhance educational outcomes, optimize agricultural productivity, mitigate health crises, foster clean energy initiatives, promote sustainable urban development, and pinpoint impoverished regions through satellite imagery, thereby facilitating the realization of the #SDGs.
Nevertheless, Kayanja acknowledged the ethical and regulatory concerns surrounding the deployment of AI technologies. He cautioned against overlooking issues pertaining to human rights infringement and data privacy breaches associated with AI implementation.
In commendation of the conference participants, particularly the leadership of LASSMUN represented by President Kalu Glory and Secretary General Folakemi Christiana Farinloye, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State, lauded their commitment to global issues and urged all students in the state to prioritize their academic pursuits, assuring them of governmental support for outstanding achievements.
Echoing the sentiment of leveraging AI for societal advancement, Mr. Olusegun Olawale Osinaike, Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary of Education District IV, encouraged collective efforts towards harnessing AI’s potential to foster a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world for future generations.
The discourse at LASSMUN not only underscores the growing recognition of AI as a pivotal tool for global development but also emphasizes the imperative of responsible and ethical AI deployment in realizing the aspirations of the SDGs.
