Africa must not be sidelined in AI governance – Dania
By Juliet Umeh
African technology advocate and Managing Director of Alpha-Geek Technologies, Oluwaseun Dania, has called for Africa’s full inclusion in global Artificial Intelligence, AI, governance, warning that the continent’s 1.4 billion people cannot be left out of the conversation shaping the future of humanity.
Dania made the call while addressing world leaders and stakeholders at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting in New York during the launch of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. He insisted that Africa, home to the world’s youngest workforce, must have its voice heard in decisions that will define the impact of AI for generations to come.
“The success of the AI revolution should not be measured merely by GDP spikes but by lives uplifted,” he said. “Africa is not just an early adopter of mobile-first AI, we are poised to be a co-creator of its future. In a world where AI is reshaping destinies, this dialogue must ensure no continent or community is left behind.”
Dania noted that AI presents Africa with an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog infrastructure gaps and accelerate digital economies, particularly in areas such as financial technology and digital currencies. But he warned that the risks of AI must be confronted with equal urgency.
“We cannot ignore the shadows—deepfakes eroding trust, biased algorithms perpetuating inequality, and unchecked data monopolies widening the North-South divide,” he cautioned.
The Alpha-Geek boss commended Nigeria’s leadership role under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, highlighting the launch of the National AI Strategy in April 2025 by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. He described the policy as a “collaborative blueprint that places Nigeria at the forefront of ethical innovation and human capital development.”
According to him, the strategy, developed with the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), is expected to drive a 27 percent annual market expansion through 2030, generate about $15 billion in GDP contributions, and equip 70 percent of Nigeria’s young workforce with AI capabilities within the same period.
Dania stressed that Africa must not be reduced to a data supplier for global corporations. “Global governance cannot be drafted in the echo chambers of Silicon Valley or in Geneva boardrooms,” he said. “It must reflect diverse perspectives, especially those from Africa.”
He called for open access to innovation, ethical standards rooted in Africa’s communal values, and investment in resilient AI infrastructure that will serve development goals, from predicting pandemics to optimizing energy.
Concluding his remarks, Dania urged world leaders to embrace fairness and inclusivity in the AI age. “Africa is ready to co-create, not merely comply. This is our moment to shape the future together,” he declared.
