The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., has emphasized the imperative for Nigeria to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for emerging technologies. Speaker Abbas acknowledged the substantial benefits inherent in new technologies, notably Artificial Intelligence and robotics. However, he underscored the necessity to proactively address potential misuse and abuse of these advancements. As a result, he has announced his intention to sponsor a legislative bill aimed at regulating emerging technologies in the near future.
Speaker Abbas delivered these remarks on Monday in Abuja during the 2022/2023 Convocation Ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies-University of Benin (NILDS-UNIBEN). In his address, he shed light on the challenges plaguing the education sector in Nigeria, which include low enrollment, particularly in rural areas. Despite extensive government efforts and substantial investments through the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) program, these challenges persist. Notably, out of the 258 million out-of-school children worldwide, an estimated 62 million are in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria accounting for a substantial portion of this figure. Additional issues confronting the sector encompass low-quality education, outdated curricula, inadequate infrastructure, and gender disparities. These existing problems have been exacerbated by security concerns and the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the northeast of the country.
Acknowledging these challenges, Speaker Abbas affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to reinvigorating the education sector, making it better equipped to meet contemporary demands. A focal point of this effort is the imperative to reform and modernize school curricula to ensure their relevance in a rapidly evolving global context. Outdated curricula have been shown to result in skill mismatches and innovation stagnation, a particularly concerning issue in a world characterized by rapid digital evolution and innovation.
Speaker Abbas further highlighted the unprecedented opportunities presented by technological and scientific innovations, notably in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He emphasized that AI has the potential to revolutionize various sectors, offering benefits such as improved healthcare, safer and more sustainable transportation, enhanced manufacturing efficiency, and more cost-effective and sustainable energy sources. Additionally, integrating AI into education can lead to a transformative shift in the way teaching and learning are conducted. It offers the potential for customized learning experiences, improved educational tools, and enhanced administrative systems, with numerous advantages but also unique challenges.
Speaker Abbas noted that despite the vast opportunities associated with AI, there are inherent risks. Datasets and algorithms used in AI can inadvertently reinforce gender, racial, or ideological biases. Moreover, AI’s automation of routine tasks can potentially displace jobs and exacerbate inequalities. Identity theft and fraud are also concerns, particularly in light of AI’s ability to create highly realistic deep fakes, which can be maliciously deployed to deceive, manipulate, and disrupt societies. As such, Speaker Abbas affirmed the need for comprehensive engagement with stakeholders and experts on AI and related issues to harness its potential while addressing concerns related to privacy, accountability, ethics, security, and intellectual property.
In light of these considerations, Speaker Abbas announced a forthcoming legislative initiative in the form of a bill to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and create a conducive environment for the development and use of this innovative technology in Nigeria. This endeavor represents a pioneering effort within Africa and one of the few such initiatives undertaken by legislative bodies worldwide.
