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“Odetola Champions Africa-Centric AI Vision at National Roundtable”
Joel Ajayi
At the National Artificial Intelligence Stakeholders Roundtable 2025, Abiola Odetola, an emerging leader in governance, public policy strategy, and development in Nigeria, delivered a compelling message on the ethical direction and urgent need for proactive regulation of artificial intelligence across the African continent.
Speaking during the Fireside Chat on “AI Regulation and Public Policy” alongside global strategist Major Adebayo Adeleke, Odetola emphasized that Nigeria and Africa must not merely adopt AI technologies, but must actively govern, contextualize, and humanize them.
“We must not allow Artificial Intelligence to govern us; instead, we must boldly govern AI with a human-centered, inclusive approach that reflects our values, context, and aspirations as Africans,” Odetola stated, setting the tone for a forward-looking conversation.
Event Overview
The event, themed “Shaping the Future of AI Governance, Ethics, and Innovation,” was convened by the American Center for Artificial Intelligence and held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja. It brought together leaders in technology, governance, academia, and civil society to chart a strategic course for Nigeria’s AI future.
In his welcome address, Mr. Olusola Amusan, Director of the American Center for AI, emphasized a people-first approach to AI deployment in Africa. He highlighted inclusivity, security, and local relevance as critical pillars for building AI systems that work for African communities.
The keynote presentation by Professor Boniface Alese, titled “AI Defenders I: Revolutionizing Cybersecurity,” explored the intersection of AI and national security infrastructure. The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), also emphasized academia’s role in shaping indigenous research and talent pipelines.
It was against this backdrop of institutional frameworks and technical insight that Odetola’s intervention stood out — offering a human-centered counterbalance and elevating the conversation toward governance that is not only strategic, but values-driven.
The Call for Localized AI Governance
Odetola’s remarks focused heavily on the governance and policy landscape. He underscored the urgency of developing homegrown strategies for regulating AI that go beyond adopting Western norms.
“The world is in a race. But Africa must not sprint blindly. We must legislate, regulate, educate, and protect our people from being mere users of technologies they neither designed nor understood,” he said.
He warned that without clear and inclusive governance structures, AI could deepen inequality, exacerbate unemployment, and replicate existing biases embedded in data.
“AI must be taught our languages, trained with our realities, and must serve our priorities. That is governance. That is power,” he added.
Global Models, Local Realities.
Odetola acknowledged the strides made in global AI governance, noting that several models already exist around the world that seek to promote ethical, transparent, and accountable use of artificial intelligence.
However, he was quick to caution against blind imitation.
“Nigeria must not mimic without meaning,” Odetola asserted.“We need a National AI Strategy that is affordable, enforceable, and local in spirit. Our policymakers must work hand-in-hand with developers, startups, and civil society to co-create these rules.”
He emphasized that many developed nations have already begun an “ethical AI revolution,” but warned that Nigeria must not be left behind — nor fall into the trap of modern algorithmic colonization.
“The global models? They don’t speak our languages. They don’t reflect our cultures. They don’t represent our diversity,” he said.
“We must not just copy frameworks — we must create. We must code in our own context, legislate in our language, and govern with our own values.”He called for a bold new direction: one where Nigeria builds its own datasets, trains its own models, and leads the world in African-centered AI ethics.
Preparing for the Storms Ahead
While optimistic about AI’s potential, Odetola didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges ahead: low digital literacy, infrastructure deficits, weak data protection enforcement, and a public trust deficit in governance systems.
“These are not reasons to retreat. They are signals to prepare. Nigeria’s youth, with the right support, can leapfrog into global AI leadership,” he stated.
While responding to questions during the chat, Odetola cautioned the audience:
“We must be careful how we define our national realities. For the avoidance of doubt, there are policymakers in Nigeria — people who live their lives to ensure that this country has the best of policy instruments, not just for AI but across critical sectors,” he said.
He pointed to the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation Law and the creation of the National Data Protection Commission in 2023 as evidence of progress in legislative support for AI governance.
He also acknowledged ongoing work by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in crafting a National AI Strategy, noting that discussions must be future-facing while grounded in today’s realities.
The Future is Governance
Odetola made a strong case for recognizing AI as a public good — one that must be designed and governed in service of human development.
“AI must be treated as a public good — for healthcare, for education, for agriculture, for sports, for justice. The people must be at the center of every AI deployment,” he noted.
His voice stood out not just for its policy depth, but for its moral clarity. As Nigeria inches closer to its first formal AI strategy, his words may serve as a compass — a reminder that the future is not just technological; it is political, ethical, and deeply human.
In his final words, he left the room with a challenge:
“AI governance is not a tech issue. It is a leadership issue. The real question is not what AI can do. It is — who will it serve, and who will be left behind if we do not govern it right.”
Featured
NELFUND: The Renewed Hope Engine Propelling Nigeria’s Youth into Tomorrow
By Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader, APC
As the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, I have spent most of my tenure fighting for a Nigeria where every young person, regardless of their ward or local government, family income, or circumstance, can chase dreams without the chains of financial despair.
Today, that fight feels like victory, thanks to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Launched as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative isn’t just a policy tweak; it’s a revolution. And under the steady, visionary hand of Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND has transformed from a bold promise into a roaring engine of opportunity, disbursing over ₦116 billion to more than 396,000 students and shattering barriers for over a million applicants.
Let’s be clear: NELFUND was always destined to be a game-changer. Signed into law by President Tinubu on April 3, 2024, it repealed the outdated 2023 Student Loan Act, replacing it with a modern, inclusive framework that covers tuition, upkeep allowances, and even vocational training—ensuring no Nigerian youth is left on the sidelines of progress.
But what elevates it from groundbreaking to generational? Leadership. Enter Akintunde Sawyerr, the diplomat-turned-executioner whose career reads like a blueprint for results-driven governance. From co-founding the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN) in 2012—backed by icons like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina—to steering global logistics at DHL across 21 countries, Sawyerr brings a rare alchemy: strategic foresight fused with unyielding accountability.
As NELFUND’s pioneer MD, he’s turned a fledgling fund into a finely tuned machine, processing over 1 million applications since May 2024 and disbursing ₦116 billion—₦61.33 billion in institutional fees and ₦46.35 billion in upkeep—to students in 231 tertiary institutions nationwide. That’s not bureaucracy; that’s brilliance.
Sawyerr’s touch is everywhere in NELFUND’s ascent. Since the portal’s launch, he’s overseen a digital ecosystem that’s as transparent as it is efficient—seamless verification, BVN-linked tracking, and real-time dashboards that have quashed misinformation and built trust. In just 18 months, the fund has empowered 396,252 students with interest-free loans, many first-generation learners who might otherwise have dropped out.
Sensitization drives in places like Ekiti and Ogun have spiked applications — 12,000 in a single day in one instance, while expansions to vocational centers in Enugu pilot the next wave of skills-based funding. And amid challenges like data mismatches and fee hikes, Sawyerr’s team has iterated relentlessly: aligning disbursements with academic calendars, resuming backlogged upkeep payments for over 3,600 students, and even probing institutional compliance to safeguard every kobo. This isn’t management; it’s mastery—a man who doesn’t just lead but launches futures.
Yet, none of this happens in a vacuum. President Tinubu’s alliance with trailblazers like Sawyerr is the secret sauce securing Nigeria’s tomorrow. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda isn’t rhetoric; it’s resources—₦100 billion seed capital channeled into a system that prioritizes equity over elitism. Together, they’ve forged a partnership where vision meets velocity: Tinubu’s bold repeal of barriers meets Sawyerr’s boots-on-the-ground execution, turning abstract policy into tangible triumphs. It’s a synergy that’s non-discriminatory by design—Christians, Muslims, every tribe and tongue united in access—fostering national cohesion through classrooms, not courtrooms.
As Sawyerr himself notes, this is “visionary leadership” in action, where the President’s political will ignites reforms that ripple across generations.
Why does this matter to us, Nigeria’s youth? Because NELFUND isn’t handing out handouts—it’s handing out horizons. In a country where 53% of us grapple with unemployment, these loans aren’t just funds; they’re fuel for innovation, entrepreneurship, and endurance.
Picture it: A first-generation polytechnic student in Maiduguri, once sidelined by fees, now graduates debt-free (repayments start two years post-NYSC, employer-deducted for ease) and launches a tech startup. Or a vocational trainee in Enugu, equipped with skills funding, revolutionizing local agriculture. This is quality education that endures—not fleeting certificates, but lifelong launchpads. Sawyerr’s focus on human-centered design ensures loans cover not just books, but bread—upkeep stipends of ₦20,000 monthly keeping hunger at bay so minds can soar. Under his watch, NELFUND has debunked doubts, refuted fraud claims, and delivered results that scream sustainability: Over ₦99.5 billion to 510,000 students by September, with 228 institutions on board.
As youth leaders, we see NELFUND for what it is: A covenant with our future. President Tinubu and MD Sawyerr aren’t just allies; they’re architects of an educated, empowered Nigeria—one where poverty’s grip loosens with every approved application, and innovation blooms from every funded desk. This isn’t charity; it’s an investment in the 70 million of us who will lead tomorrow.
We’ve crossed one million applications not because of luck, but leadership—a duo that’s turning “access denied” into “future unlocked.”
To President Tinubu: Thank you for daring to dream big and backing it with action.
To Akintunde Sawyerr: You’re the executor we needed, proving that one steady hand can steady a nation.
And to every Nigerian youth: Apply. Graduate. Conquer.
Because with NELFUND, your generation isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, enduring, and eternal.
The Renewed Hope isn’t a slogan; it’s our story, now written in scholarships and success. Let’s keep turning the page.
Dayo Israel is the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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