Experts Call for National Framework on AI Governance at CITAD’s 6th KANSIS

By Mustapha Salisu

Experts and digital rights advocates have called on the Nigerian government to urgently establish a comprehensive national framework to guide the ethical and inclusive governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The call was made at the 6th Kano Social Influencers Summit (KANSIS25), organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), held at Khalifa Isyaku Rabi’u University (KHAIRUN), Kano, from October 22 to 23, 2025.

The summit, themed “Toward a More Inclusive Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” brought together over 1,200 participants, including academics, ICT experts, policymakers, media practitioners, civil society leaders, social influencers, government officials, youth innovators, and persons with disabilities from across Nigeria and beyond.

The communiqué issued at the end of the summit, was signed by Professor Amina Kaidal of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Tunde Akanni of Lagos State University, Chief Nmezi Oguadinma of NSL Consulting, Lagos, and Isah Garba, Senior Programs Officer at CITAD.

According to the communiqué, participants stressed that while Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming global development, Africa contributes only a small fraction to global AI research due to poor infrastructure, low funding, and limited gender inclusion.

They emphasized that Nigeria’s expanding AI landscape requires urgent legal, ethical, and institutional frameworks to prevent misuse, promote innovation, and safeguard human rights.

The summit was declared open by Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, who commended CITAD for sustaining the platform and pledged his administration’s support for digital innovation and responsible AI governance.

In her opening remarks, Professor Amina Kaidal, Chairperson of CITAD’s Governing Board, described KANSIS as a hub for digital dialogue and collaboration since 2019, while the Chair of CITAD’s Board of Trustees, His Royal Majesty Chief (Engr.) C.O. Iromantu, urged participants to harness AI’s potential in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

Keynote presentations were delivered by Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and Malam Bala Mohammed of Bayero University, Kano. Dr. Olatunji’s address on “Striking a Balance Between Data Needs for AI Training and Privacy Protection” underscored the need for robust data protection and ethical data use, while Malam Mohammed warned against the dangers of disinformation and deepfakes in the age of AI.

Over the two days, participants engaged in plenary and breakout sessions that explored issues of AI ethics, data privacy, digital rights, gender inclusion, misinformation, and national development.

However, after extensive deliberations, participants observed that:

1.⁠ ⁠Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming global development, yet Africa contributes only about 5% of global AI research due to inadequate infrastructure, funding, and gender inclusion.
2.⁠ ⁠Nigeria’s AI adoption is expanding despite challenges such as poor ICT infrastructure, weak regulation, and unstable power supply.
3.⁠ ⁠Misuse of AI through disinformation, deepfakes, and misinformation poses grave threats to democracy and social cohesion.
4.⁠ ⁠AI-powered assistive technologies are empowering Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), but high costs limit access.
5.⁠ ⁠There is an urgent need for public investment in research, innovation, and digital literacy to unlock AI’s full potential for inclusive growth.
6.⁠ ⁠A well-resourced and enabling environment is vital for maximizing AI’s potential to drive innovation, job creation, and inclusive development
7.⁠ ⁠Artificial Intelligence has become central to global development and is increasingly adopted in Africa, particularly among the youth

The communiqué further recommended that

1.⁠ ⁠A multi-stakeholder platform, coordinated by CITAD, be established to engage government agencies on revising policy and legal frameworks guiding AI in Nigeria.
2.⁠ ⁠The government should increase investment in ICT infrastructure, human capital, and research to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global AI ecosystem.
3.⁠ ⁠There is an urgent need to enact and enforce data protection laws to curb unauthorized data mining and trading.
4.⁠ ⁠Stakeholders should promote AI awareness, ethics, and digital literacy among citizens to encourage responsible and inclusive AI use.
5.⁠ ⁠Tech companies and government should subsidize AI assistive technologies to ensure accessibility and affordability for all.
6.⁠ ⁠Donor organizations and partners should continue supporting CITAD and KANSIS for their vital roles in advancing digital literacy, youth engagement, and innovation in Nigeria.
7.⁠ ⁠The government should introduce coherent legal and ethical standards to ensure transparency and accountability in AI deployment.

In conclusion, the summit reaffirmed that Artificial Intelligence must serve humanity through principles of ethics, inclusivity, and accountability. Participants commended CITAD for sustaining KANSIS as a platform for innovation, dialogue, and empowerment, and expressed appreciation to Khalifa Isyaku Rabi’u University for hosting the 2025 edition.