By Fred Ohwahwa
Like most things technology, the Third World is usually the last recipient of them, Nigeria is no exception. To most people in the country, the concept of Artificial Intelligence is a completely novel idea. The very few who are familiar with it are taking tentative steps to get acquainted with its utility.
From September 6 to 7, 2023, the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) held its annual conference in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. The theme of this year’s conference was “Digital Communication Agenda and Nigeria’s Transformation”. The theme was chosen as a recognition of the challenges and opportunities posed by this new form of communication and delivering on a multitude of tasks.
Most attendees admitted that AI is new to them but vowed to take advantage of this new device. That will take some learning.
The participants noted that the emergence of social media has allowed for the spread of false information, calling on media professionals and scholars to sanitise the media landscape, particularly as the general public now relies on online information due to its pervasive impatience.
Addressing the invention of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on digital communication and technology, they submitted that the Al provides opportunities to build new ethical guidelines and develop new creative skillsets for media practitioners.
On October 30, 2023, the United States President, Joe Biden, issued an executive order on Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence to advance a coordinated governmentwide approach toward the safe and responsible development of AI. It sets forth a wide range of federal regulatory principles and priorities, directs myriad federal agencies to promulgate standards and technical guidelines, and invokes statutory authority — the Defence Production Act — that has historically been the primary source of presidential authorities to commandeer or regulate private industry to support the national defence.
The Order reflects America’s desire to make AI more secure and to cement the country’s leadership in global AI policy ahead of other attempts to regulate AI — most notably in the European Union and United Kingdom and to respond to growing competition in AI development from China.
In Nigeria and much of Africa, there is little or nothing to show that the government is developing any response to this latest technological challenge. The little that is visible is what individuals and corporate bodies are doing not to be left out of this global trend.
The conference by the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals in Nigeria is one example in this regard. However, to a vast majority of Nigerians, Artificial Intelligence remains a strange concept. It is a mixed bag, as there are those who are making strides with this relatively new device in the enhancement of knowledge.
Kehinde Oyesomi, an associate professor of Communications at the Covenant University in Ogun State in Nigeria, puts her experience this way:
“Artificial intelligence has enhanced my productivity in the workplace in diverse ways. As a teacher, AI has helped in improving my classroom experience, by providing me with personalised learning experiences. With AI, I’m able to handle each student by focusing on their individual strengths and skills. AI also provides me tons of options when I find myself stuck with a particular course or topic. Through the use of AI, my knowledge as a teacher is broadened, I get to engage my students beyond what I normally would have.
“I must say that Artificial Intelligence has significantly transformed the landscape of academic duties, playing a pivotal role in modern education. In terms of delivering academic duties, artificial intelligence has aided quality delivery of research. For instance, AI helps in personalised learning, tailoring educational content to the unique needs of students.
“In research, AI has become an indispensable assistant, helping researchers analyse vast datasets, discover relevant literature, and even generate hypotheses.
“Also, Virtual classrooms and online platforms, driven by AI, have made remote learning more engaging and accessible. In addition, through AI, scholars have been able to create course content, edit their manuscript in faster time, and harness simpler ways to teach a topic.
“Overall, AI has been a much needed tool in the delivery of my official duties.”
A contrasting experience is that of Mr. Simon Enibe, a chartered accountant and proprietor of a private school in Lagos: “On a personal basis I wouldn’t be able to make so much assertion on this because AI hasn’t been deployed in most of what I do to be factual.”
He has a fellow traveler in Mrs. Roselyn Onalaja, senior partner of Stresert Limited, a consulting firm based in Lagos. According to her, “My knowledge of this subject matter is still quite limited.”
But Adeola Oyeleke, a communications teacher at the Alex Ekwueme University in Ebonyi State, recognizes the importance of AI and the importance of embracing it. She said: “Artificial Intelligence has indeed helped my teaching job as a university lecturer. I use AI-powered tools through blended learning platforms to facilitate teaching online, search for resources and automated grading of assignments which saves my time.”
While AI provides opportunities for growth in various spheres of human endeavours, it is also recognized that it is subject to abuse. Which is why many governments are developing frameworks for its proper harnessing.
Many organizations in Nigeria are beginning to recognize that AI could improve output of their employees and bring about a healthy bottom line in their businesses. And as would be expected , the private sector is leading the challenge in this regard. The Nigerian government, as usual, is still snoring.
