Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) announced that it is drafting a code of practice for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). According to NITDA spokesperson, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, the country already has a policy on AI, but it is yet to have a code of practice to support it. The code of practice is designed to be specifically tailored to Nigeria’s situation, as the country cannot adopt the EU and US codes of conduct to handle emerging technologies like ChatGPT developed by OpenAI.
Umar stated that Nigeria’s preparedness to handle emerging technologies has raised concerns about the growing risk of using AI. As a result, the agency seeks to perfect Nigeria’s code of practice to suit the country’s peculiar situation. This move will set a standard for the use of AI in Nigeria and encourage the development of home-grown and internationally accepted technologies.
While Nigeria’s National AI Policy is yet to be approved, the agency is already drafting the Nigeria code of practice for AI. As more businesses integrate AI into their systems, it is crucial to deploy AI ethically and safely; doing so will facilitate its acceptance by society and improve the benefits it provides.
In conclusion, the Nigeria code of practice for AI is a welcome development and will help regulate the use of AI, while promoting innovation in the country. By setting standards for the safe and ethical deployment of AI, Nigeria can benefit from the opportunities these technologies provide.
