ABUAD Hosts Experts, highlighting AI’s Transformative Potential for Governance, Economic Resilience, and Social Equity in Nigeria

Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), brought together national experts and scholars at its 3rd One-Day Research Conference to examine the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sustainable development.

Held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, and hosted by the College of Social and Management Sciences (CSMS), the event, themed: “Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development: Implications for Government, Economy, Society, and Policy Making in Nigeria”, highlighted AI’s transformative potential for governance, economic resilience, and social equity in Nigeria.

Standing in for the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Olasupo Ijabadeniyi, reaffirmed ABUAD’s commitment to innovation. He cited the university’s No. 1 global ranking in Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Clean Energy) and its pioneering integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution skills; from AI to blockchain—across its academic programs.

“Our students aren’t just prepared for the future—they’re equipped to lead it,”  the VC declared.

In his welcome address, Prof. Christopher Aina, Provost of the College of Social and Management Sciences, urged stakeholders to ensure AI deployment remains inclusive and equitable.

“I charge all participants to view this platform not just as an academic exercise, but as an opportunity to shape policy, spark new ideas, and foster the kind of discourse that drives change,” Prof. Aina said.

Hon. Donald Ojogo, Member of the House of Representatives for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, represented by Mr. Richard Olatunde, former Chief Press Secretary to the late Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu—delivered the keynote address. He emphasized AI’s critical role in mitigating challenges faced by Nigeria’s riverine communities, where flooding, erosion, and disease continue to threaten livelihoods.

The second Keynote Lecturer,Dr. Awe Agboluga, a leading voice in Nigeria’s accounting and management sector, was represented by Dr. Steve Gwaram, who outlined AI’s potential to revolutionize financial accountability and corporate governance through real-time fraud detection and predictive analytics.

Despite these potentials, both speakers highlighted urgent challenges including: Nigeria’s lack of a comprehensive legal framework for AI, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the “black box” problem, which is AI’s opaque decision-making processes that hinder transparency.

Presenters across the board called for decisive policy action, with key recommendations including the enactment of the draft National AI Strategy 2024, the implementation of “AI explainability” standards, and the strengthening of data privacy enforcement through the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).  The event continued with an interactive question-and-answer session, followed by scholarly paper presentations focused on AI in agriculture, accounting, computing, and other related fields.

The event continued with an interactive question-and-answer session, before closing with scholarly paper presentations focused on AI in agriculture, accounting, computing, and other related fields.