Akeem Hassan, Innovation adviser to the Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology has noted that Nigeria risks becoming a land of bright, educated, tech-savvy but ‘sophisticatedly unemployed’ individuals, rendered redundant by foreign artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms/ models.
According to him, without a deliberate strategy, the danger is not only a job loss but identity erosion.
In simple terms, this could lead to worsening unemployment as AI could take more jobs away.
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Hassan argues that Nigeria must assert a leadership role in shaping an AI strategy that reflects her languages, cultures, and challenges to avoid youth unemployment in the country.
He admits that AI which was once a whisper among Silicon Valley insiders is now the ‘loudest echo in global innovation’.
For instance, investors globally are pouring in billions in AI universities are tailoring curricula. AI-generated content floods social media, with even the WhatsApp users forwarding auto-crafted inspirational quotes.
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This is because AI can now write poetry, compose Afrobeats, script films, generate artwork, and even build fully functioning apps. Within a few keystrokes, entire businesses can be designed. Flights can be booked, contracts negotiated and food ordered.
As AI has become more than a buzzword, and the spark behind spirited debates, it has made the innovation space alive with optimism, but not without unease.
Hassan says that amid the global frenzy, a critical question remains whether Nigeria is keeping pace or is merely admiring the parade from the sidelines.
His concerns stems from the fact that for much of the developed world, this AI booms spells unmatched efficiency.
In a country like Nigeria which is brimming with creative youths forging livelihoods through hustle and ingenuity, this dawn of automation poses far more complex implications.
Nigeria, home to one of Africa’s fastest-growing tech hubs, is no stranger to bold innovation. Yet concerns mount that unless this revolution should be tailored to local realities.
“This is not alarmism,” argues a Lagos-based developer. “It’s realism and realism must be met with preparation.”
In a world where a simple AI prompt can mimic years of human creativity, the concern is what becomes of the artist, scriptwriter or app developer. Who will own the soul of a song that took seconds to compose?
How AI innovation can be modeled to suit the Nigerian context
AI is power, but like all power, its impact depends on who wields it and who it leaves behind.
To address the concern on the implications of full adoption of foreign AI models in the Nigerian context, Hassan recommends that local AI models need to be trained on Nigerian data and dialects.
“The education system needs to be re-engineered to prioritise critical thinking over rote learning”.
“In addition, creative industries needs to be empowered to see AI as a co-pilot, not competition. Nigeria needs to take leadership roles in global AI dialogues rather than trailing behind”, he adds.
Stakeholders have also warned that Nigeria must develop tools not just to survive the revolution but to shape it.
Between opportunity and obsolescence
To view AI as an adversary is short-sighted regardless.
According to a PwC report, AI is expected to contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
Often compared to transformative inventions like electricity and the printing press, AI could reshape how we live, work, and innovate. It’s already powering breakthroughs across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and communication.
The report notes that for Nigeria, AI represents more than just a technological shift; but a strategic opportunity to accelerate inclusive growth, enhance public services, and position the country as a digital leader on the African continent.
For all the uncertainty, one asset remains constant: the resilience of the Nigerian spirit.
Across the country, young people are already adapting, such as learning to code, launching tech startups, experimenting with machine learning, and writing scripts that merge folklore with futuristic themes.
“The coming years will define more than just economic trajectories. They will determine whether Africa is a maker or a mere recipient of tomorrow’s technological miracles”.
“And so the question is not if AI will shape the future but what part Nigeria play in writing that future”
“The answer lies in bold, deliberate action”, Hassan concludes.
