The Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) has called for the large-scale deployment of homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to transform governance, expand economic opportunities, and strengthen Nigeria’s national resilience.
The President of the Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners, Eyitope Ogunbodede, made the call in Abuja at the commencement of the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Awareness Day. He described the moment as a critical turning point in Nigeria’s AI journey.
Speaking on the 2026 theme, “Harnessing Ethical Artificial Intelligence for National Transformation, Inclusive Growth, and Economic Resilience,” Ogunbodede said the focus has shifted decisively from awareness to national-scale deployment. According to him, Nigeria must move “from conversation to implementation, from potential to measurable national impact.”
He stressed that AI should be applied to address infrastructure gaps, service-delivery bottlenecks, security challenges, and productivity deficits across key sectors of the economy.
Ogunbodede explained that NAAIP was founded in April 2024 after a landmark national training programme that equipped nearly 1,000 participants with specialised AI competencies. He said the association was established to move Nigeria from being a consumer of AI technologies to a creator of ethical, globally competitive solutions.
Outlining practical use cases, he said AI could ease urban congestion through intelligent traffic systems, improve power supply via predictive maintenance of the national grid, and boost transparency and efficiency in public administration. “This is not science fiction,” he said. “These are achievable solutions that can save billions of naira and improve the daily lives of millions of Nigerians.”
On inclusive growth, Ogunbodede warned against AI becoming the preserve of a privileged few. He highlighted initiatives that support AI-driven advisory services for farmers, personalised learning tools for rural students, and digital solutions across health, finance, agriculture, and governance. He added that such efforts are particularly important for youth engagement and workforce readiness.
He also underscored AI’s role in economic resilience and national security, stating that NAAIP is ready to collaborate with the Federal Government on AI-enabled surveillance, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision-support systems.
Development partners were urged to support capacity building, research funding, ethical governance frameworks, and global knowledge exchange. Young Nigerians were also encouraged to acquire AI skills and innovate responsibly.
Addressing regulation, the Vice President, North Central, Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners, Emmanuel Dandaura, noted that although Nigeria has AI strategies and frameworks, regulatory responsibilities remain fragmented across multiple agencies.
He called for the establishment of a central AI Commission to harmonise oversight, coordinate sector regulators, and handle complaints. Dandaura added that fears of job losses could be mitigated through education, retraining, and responsible adoption, drawing parallels with job creation following the introduction of GSM.
