Dr. Friedrick Ubokudom, a research scientist, says Nigeria’s journey toward responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) depends on scaling education, strengthening digital infrastructure, and embedding ethics at every stage of AI development.
In an interview on Monday in Abuja, Ubokudom emphasized that responsible AI adoption requires strong policy frameworks, investment in local talent, and partnerships with academia and industry. “The country’s National AI Strategy (2025) already sets the foundation, but scaling talent pipelines, ethical governance, and digital infrastructure are critical steps,” he said.
Ubokudom, who works as a data analyst for a private technology firm, highlighted the 2025 partnership between the University of Lagos and OpenAI, which launched Africa’s first OpenAI Academy. The initiative trains students, researchers, and professionals in AI skills, and Ubokudom urged the expansion of similar academies across Nigeria’s universities to democratize AI education.
He also noted that organizations like Data Science Nigeria run bootcamps and hackathons to train young professionals and that scaling such initiatives nationwide could build a robust AI talent pipeline.
The researcher urged the Federal Government to expand Galaxy Backbone’s cloud and data center services to provide secure, scalable computing power for AI projects. He stressed that broadband penetration and affordable internet access are essential for extending AI adoption beyond urban centers.
“Building national data repositories with strong privacy safeguards will provide the raw material for AI systems while ensuring compliance with ethical standards,” Ubokudom said. He also warned that brain drain remains a challenge, as AI professionals may migrate abroad without competitive local opportunities.
Ubokudom highlighted power supply and internet connectivity as key infrastructure gaps limiting AI scalability. He further cautioned on ethical concerns, noting that without strong oversight, AI could reinforce inequalities or be misused in surveillance.