A MAJOR gathering of technology experts, policymakers, and social influencers, under the aegis of “6th Kano Social Influencers Summit (KANSIS25)”, has concluded with a strong consensus on the urgent need for Nigeria to establish robust ethical and legal frameworks for the governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the programme, jointly signed by Prof. Amina Kaidal of the University of Maiduguri; Prof. Tunde Akanni of Lagos State University; Chief Nmezi Oguadinma of NSL Consulting Lagos; and Isah Garba, Senior Programs Officer at CITAD, and made available to National Record on Tuesday, the two-day forum emphasised that while AI holds immense potential for national development, its unchecked proliferation poses significant risks to democracy, privacy, and social cohesion.
The event, organised by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), was held from October 22nd to 23rd, 2025, under the theme: “Toward a More Inclusive Governance of Artificial Intelligence.”
The event, held at Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), attracted over 1,200 participants from across Nigeria and beyond, including academics, ICT professionals, government officials, media practitioners, youth innovators, and a significant representation of persons with disabilities.
In her opening address, Prof. Amina Kaidal, Chairperson of CITAD’s Governing Board, reaffirmed the summit’s role as a vital hub for digital dialogue and collaboration since its inception in 2019. The Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, commended CITAD for sustaining the initiative and pledged his administration’s support for digital innovation and ethical AI governance.
Keynote presentations set a sober and analytical tone for the proceedings. Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), delivered an address on striking a critical balance between the vast data needs for training AI systems and the imperative of protecting citizen privacy.
Similarly, Malam Bala Mohammed of Bayero University, Kano, detailed the profound implications of AI-powered disinformation and deepfakes for the media and the public, stressing the need for proactive countermeasures.
Over the course of the summit, participants engaged in five plenary sessions and 14 breakout panels, delving into topics such as “AI, Digital Rights, and Empowering the Nigerian Influencer Generation,” “Her Voice in the Code: Centering Girls and Women in AI Governance,” and “AI and Communication Access for the Deaf.”
A notable scholarly presentation also explored the challenges and opportunities for Muslim female students in Northern Nigeria in an AI-dominated future.
According to the communiqué, participants noted that despite AI’s transformative global role, Africa contributes a mere 5% to global AI research, hampered by inadequate infrastructure, funding, and gender inclusion.
Participants also identified the misuse of AI for disinformation and deepfakes as a grave threat to democracy, while also acknowledging the empowering potential of AI-powered assistive technologies for persons with disabilities, albeit limited by high costs.
The summit’s resolutions call for concrete action from both government and private stakeholders. A primary recommendation is the establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform, coordinated by CITAD, to engage the government in revising Nigeria’s policy and legal frameworks for AI.
The communiqué also noted that the Summit urges the government to increase investment in ICT infrastructure, human capital, and research to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global AI ecosystem as participants stressed the urgent need to enact and enforce comprehensive data protection laws to curb unauthorised data mining.
Participants also called for widespread promotion of AI awareness, ethics, and digital literacy among citizens, and recommended that tech companies and government collaborate to subsidise AI assistive technologies, ensuring they are accessible and affordable for all.
According to communiqué, KANSIS25 reaffirmed that for AI to drive a just and democratic digital future for Nigeria, it must be firmly anchored on the principles of ethics, inclusivity, and accountability, with participants commending CITAD for its sustaining role while also thanking the management of KHAIRUN for providing a conducive environment for the critical discussions.
