NITDA DG seeks global inclusive AI utilisation

Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has urged the global tech community to adopt measures that will ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are built according to policies, regulations and laws.

This is contained in a statement issued on Friday by Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA in Abuja.

Inuwa made the call while participating in a plenary session at the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

The theme of the plenary was “Catalysing AI Communities and Solutions: Sharing Cases Across the EU, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.”

Inuwa said that AI had become embedded in people’s lives and activities to almost an insignificant level.

The D-G said that getting people in the community to be part of building AI systems was very important.

This, he said, was because if few tech savvy people developed AI systems, they would build the systems to be complicated for commoners.

“Governments need to make sure that there are Ethics, Codes, and Standard for anybody designing any system that will make decisions on behalf of the government or that will make decisions that the community must follow.

“The way it is today, we obey most of the rules of these technologies than the rules of our country.

“We need to stop looking at technology from either consumer’s perspective in terms of where he buys and costs or a capitalist in terms of how to exploit or build products around it.

“We need to start looking at it from the citizen’s eyes, how it changes the way we live together, and how it can be used for the public good.

“This can only be achieved through policies, regulations, and laws, which we believe has to be co-created,” he said.

According to him, “we are saying that the government should co-create it with the ecosystem because the technology is new and evolving.”

Inuwa further said that to make the digital space safer for everyone, including children, Nigeria came up with a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries.

He said the government was trying to ensure that what is illegal offline is illegal online, adding that the action plan was to move Nigeria’s legal laws to the digital space.

The D-G also highlighted the need to ensure that unaccountable power doesn’t reside and be exercised by anyone.

He decried that in some cases, big tech companies appeared to be more powerful than some sovereign nations due to the data and information in their possession.

Inuwa urged that government should be firm in regulating big tech companies, platforms and as well ensuring they were accountable which would further enhance competition and encourage local start-ups.

The NITDA boss also said that the government should be looking at technology beyond just a tool but as something that can be used for government transformation.

“We are not saying the government should have total control over the technology that can lead to authoritarian regime or dictators with full power to do whatever they want, rather, we should use it to protect our democracy.”