The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AI

  • Group to deepen AI in Nigeria

    Group to deepen AI in Nigeria

    A group, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria, said it will deepen the deployment of the technology in the country through conferences and hackathon.

    Ehia Erhaboh who spoke in Lagos ahead of the conference in Lagos, said: “We aim to localise AI advancement for Nigeria, ensure this 4th industrial revolution and general purpose technology for local challenges. InnovateAI Lagos 2024 will showcase how AI can effectively address our unique challenges.”

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    Also speaking, co-convener of the conference, Dotun Adeoye, said InnovateAI Lagos 2024 is more than just a conference. It is a catalyst to eliminate silos in the Nigerian AI ecosystem as well as imbibing best practices from local and global thought leaders.

  • How artificial intelligence is changing our world

    How artificial intelligence is changing our world

    • By John Amabolou Elekun

    Sir: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of our daily existence, revolutionizing the way we live, work, and interact. Its impact is pervasive, touching various facets of our lives with unprecedented advancements and innovations.

    In the realm of daily activities, AI has become an indispensable companion. Smartphones and personal devices are now equipped with AI-driven features that enhance user experience. From predictive text suggestions to facial recognition for unlocking devices, AI has made these interactions intuitive and efficient. Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have become our digital aides, responding to voice commands and simplifying tasks, from setting reminders to answering queries.

    Entertainment and shopping experiences have also undergone a metamorphosis through AI. Streaming platforms use AI algorithms to analyse user preferences and recommend personalized content, creating a tailored viewing experience. Similarly, e-commerce platforms employ AI to suggest products based on past purchases and browsing history, making the shopping process more enjoyable and efficient.

    In healthcare, AI has emerged as a game-changer, augmenting diagnostic and predictive capabilities. Machine learning algorithms analyse medical data to identify patterns and predict potential health issues. Robotics and automation, guided by AI, have transformed surgeries, enabling precision and reducing recovery times. Personalized medicine, tailoring treatments to an individual’s genetic makeup, has become a reality through AI’s analytical prowess.

    Transportation has witnessed a revolution with the advent of AI. Autonomous vehicles, guided by sophisticated AI systems, are reshaping the future of commuting. These vehicles promise safer and more efficient travel, potentially reducing accidents caused by human error. AI is also applied to traffic management systems, optimizing routes to alleviate congestion and enhance overall transportation efficiency.

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    Education, too, has felt the impact of AI. Personalized learning experiences, powered by AI algorithms, cater to individual student needs, adapting content and pacing to optimize comprehension. AI-driven tutoring systems provide additional support, offering students a customized approach to learning. These innovations address challenges in traditional education methods, fostering a more dynamic and responsive learning environment.

    While AI brings numerous benefits, it also raises concerns about its impact on employment. Automation, driven by AI, has altered the job market landscape. Routine and repetitive tasks are increasingly being automated, leading to discussions about job displacement. However, this shift also prompts a focus on upskilling and reskilling the workforce to adapt to the changing demands of the job market. Moreover, AI’s growth has created new job roles in areas like AI development, data analysis, and maintenance.

    As AI continues to evolve, ethical considerations and privacy concerns come to the forefront. Questions about the responsible use of AI, potential biases in algorithms, and the safeguarding of personal data need careful consideration. Striking a balance between technological innovation and ethical standards is crucial to ensuring that AI remains a force for good in everyday life.

    The impact of artificial intelligence on everyday life is profound and multifaceted. From enhancing personal devices to revolutionizing healthcare and transportation, AI is a transformative force that shapes the way we live and interact with the world. While challenges and ethical considerations persist, the ongoing evolution of AI promises even more significant contributions to our daily lives in the years to come.

    •John Amabolou Elekun,

    Iju-Ajuwon, Lagos.          

  • Nigeria, 27 others endorse global AI declaration

    Nigeria, 27 others endorse global AI declaration

    Nigeria and 27 countries have joined others to endorse the Bletchley Declaration.

    The declaration established a shared understanding of opportunities and risks posed by frontier artificial intelligence (AI) and need for governments to meet the most significant challenges.

     Leading AI nations yesterday convened for the first time by United Kingdom, with United States, China, and European Union, at Bletchley Park, UK, for the declaration.

    The Bletchley Declaration on AI safety sees 28 countries, including Africa, Middle East, and Asia, as well as EU, agreeing to collectively manage potential risks through  global effort to ensure AI is developed and deployed in a safe, responsible way.

     Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said: “Artificial Intelligence offers opportunity to appropriate knowledge quickly and seamlessly in addressing pressing socio-economic challenges.

    “As we accelerate our investment in AI, it is essential to partner allies to deepen capacity and knowledge.”

     Others that endorsed include Brazil, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

     The declaration fulfills objectives in  shared agreement and responsibility on risks, opportunities and a process for collaboration on frontier AI safety and research.

    Talks today with leading frontier AI companies and experts from academia and civil society will see further discussions on understanding frontier AI risks and improving frontier AI safety.

     Countries agreed that substantial risks may arise from potential intentional misuse or unintended issues of control of frontier AI, with particular concern caused by cybersecurity, biotechnology and misinformation risks.

     The declaration sets out agreement that there is “potential for serious, even catastrophic, harm either deliberate or unintentional, stemming from the most significant capabilities of these AI models.” Countries also noted the risks beyond frontier AI, including bias and privacy.

    Recognising the need to deepen the understanding of risks and capabilities that are not fully understood, attendees also agreed to work together to support a network of scientific research on Frontier AI safety. This builds on the UK Prime Minister’s announcement last week for the UK to establish the world’s first AI Safety Institute and complements existing international efforts including at the G7, OECD, Council of Europe, United Nations and the Global Partnership on AI. This will ensure the best available scientific research can be used to create an evidence base for managing the risks whilst unlocking the benefits of the technology, including through the UK’s AI Safety Institute which will look at the range of risks posed by AI.

    The Declaration details that the risks are “best addressed through international cooperation”. As part of agreeing a forward process for international collaboration on frontier AI safety, The Republic of Korea has agreed to co-host a mini virtual summit on AI in the next six months. France will then host the next in-person Summit in a year from now. Further details on these events will be confirmed in due course.

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    This ensures an enduring legacy from the Summit and continued international action to tackle AI risks, including informing national and international risk-based policies across these countries.

    The Declaration, building upon last week’s announcement of the UK’s emerging processes for AI safety, also acknowledges that those developing these unusually powerful and potentially dangerous frontier AI capabilities have a particular responsibility for ensuring the safety of these systems, including by implementing systems to test them and other appropriate measures.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This is a landmark achievement that sees the world’s greatest AI powers agree on the urgency behind understanding the risks of AI – helping ensure the long-term future of our children and grandchildren.

     “Under the UK’s leadership, more than twenty five countries at the AI Safety Summit have stated a shared responsibility to address AI risks and take forward vital international collaboration on frontier AI safety and research.

     “The UK is once again leading the world at the forefront of this new technological frontier by kickstarting this conversation, which will see us work together to make AI safe and realise all its benefits for generations to come.”

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, said: “Today’s agreement, signed by attendees from across the globe, offers an important first step as we begin two days of vitally important discussions here at Bletchley Park. 

     “We have always said that no single country can face down the challenges and risks posed by AI alone, and today’s landmark Declaration marks the start of a new global effort to build public trust by ensuring the technology’s safe development. 

     “Bletchley Park marks the start of a long road ahead, and the Summit will kickstart an enduring process to ensure every nation and every citizen can realise the boundless benefits of AI”. 

    Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said: “AI knows no borders, and its impact on the world will only deepen.

    “The UK is proud to have kickstarted the global discussion at Bletchley Park on how we ensure the transformational power of AI is used as a force for good by and for all of us.”

    A spokesperson for the French Presidency said: “The French authorities welcome the international and cooperative work cycle launched by the AI Safety Summit to analyse, understand and respond to the risks that certain Frontier AI models could cause. France is ready to participate in this long-term collective effort and will be happy to host the next in person Summit”.

    A spokesperson for the Republic of Korea Government said: “Minister Lee is delighted that Korea will be the co-hosts of the mini virtual summit. Korea is a world leader in technologies like AI and recognises the importance of multilateral cooperation to ensure AI technologies are designed, used and governed in safe ways.”

    To mark the opening of the Summit, His Majesty The King delivered a virtual address, via video to the AI Safety Summit yesterday morning as proceedings got underway. His Majesty pointed to AI being one of the ‘greatest technological leaps in the history of human endeavour’ and hailed the technology’s enormous potential to transform the lives of citizens across the world through better treatments for conditions like cancer and heart disease.

    The King also spoke of the ‘clear imperative to ensure that this rapidly evolving technology remains safe and secure’ and the need for ‘international coordination and collaboration’. The King’s address signed-off with thanks for the vital role attendees will play over the next two days, laying the foundations for a ‘lasting consensus’ on AI safety to cement its place as a force for good.

  • Continuous learning key to AI, says PMI

    Continuous learning key to AI, says PMI

    Project Management Institute (PMI) has stressed the need for professionals to continue learning to keep pace with emerging technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    President/Chief Executive Officer of PMI, Pierre Le Manh, who spoke during the unveiling of the PMI Research findings, said to keep up with the latest developments in AI technology, project professionals must prioritise continuous learning.

    He said: ‘’I see an incredible opportunity to elevate the leadership role of project professionals in their organisation, thanks to the AI-driven disruption. Project professionals are natural learners, problem solvers, innovators, and they get things done. Now is the time for us to lead the AI transformation of organisations. The AI in Project Management Resource Center on PMI.org is the destination for learning to navigate a new era of efficiency, insight, and growth.

    “The page, complete with AI insights and learning opportunities, will be updated consistently with new, thought-provoking survey findings, thought leadership, industry analysis, academic research, and community-contributed content and publications.’’

    The varied data sources – inclusive of PMI’s vast community of academic partners, enterprise partners, and millions of project professionals, combined with proprietary research – will set this content apart and make it the go-to resource for project professionals and organisations striving to leverage these tools to improve project success.”

    According to the PMI Research, only 18per cent of the project professionals with AI skills have got practical experience.

    PMI stated that the organisation is empowering millions of global project professionals to adopt, embrace, and leverage AI, machine learning (ML), and generative AI (GenAI).

    The organisation said it is developing the tools, resources, and learning opportunities – including a free introductory online course entitled “Generative AI Overview for Project Managers” – project professionals need to leverage AI-powered technology while preserving the human touch in project management.  

    The research also revealed that organisations that place a high priority on power skills are significantly better at completing projects that meet business goals. Additionally, they waste less investment due to poor project performance compared to the global average (4.8 per cent vs. 5.2 per cent) and far less than organisations that put a low priority on power skills (8.8 percent). 

    According to McKinsey, GenAI and other technologies have the potential to automate work activities that absorb 60 to 70 percent of employees’ time today. But tools cannot automate interpersonal skills, the invaluable and very necessary skills project managers bring to projects. Communication, problem-solving, collaborative leadership, and strategic thinking – skills PMI calls “power skills” – will continue to be crucial to project success.

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    PMI announced that it will post two new articles in October 2023 and the key insights from these articles include how project managers can leverage AI for project productivity and enhance power skills,  how AI adoption will only increase, so project managers need to upskill quickly to take advantage of this enormous career opportunity and how building organisational resilience, leveraging technical skills, and upskilling teams will help organisations remain competitive.

    “This course is just the beginning, PMI will continue to release learning content focused on AI in project management, all created for project professionals by project professionals. The PMI community will test the learning content, ensuring it reflects the experience of project professionals who have relevant experience using AI in project management,” Le Manh said.

    As AI takes a foothold on the project management profession, project professionals will need to embrace experimenting with these new tools and connecting with peers for lessons learned. To pave the way for professionals to do this, PMI is reimagining how project professionals can balance AI with human ingenuity at its annual event, PMI Global Summit, 25-28 October in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.   

  • Empowering Nigeria with AI

    Empowering Nigeria with AI

    By Samuel Jekeli

    SIR: In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. It’s a nation with a rich history in oil production, where “black gold” has been the backbone of its economy for decades. However, there’s a new player in town that’s poised to reshape the economic landscape: Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    AI represents a technological revolution that has the potential to transform various industries, drive economic growth, and address some of the country’s most pressing challenges. Some reasons why AI is gaining recognition as the “New Oil” include its economic transformation, data revolution, ability to solve complex problems, and global competitiveness.

     AI has the potential to diversify Nigeria’s economy and reduce dependence on oil. It can spawn new industries, such as AI development, data analytics, and machine learning applications, creating jobs and fostering economic growth.

    AI thrives on data, and Nigeria has a wealth of untapped data sources. This includes data from agriculture, healthcare, finance, and telecommunications. AI can leverage this data to drive informed decision-making and innovation.

    AI can be applied to solve complex societal problems in Nigeria, such as healthcare diagnostics, agriculture optimization, and urban planning. AI-powered solutions can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of services.

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    Embracing AI will position Nigeria on the global stage as a competitive player in technology and innovation. It opens doors to international collaborations and investments, further boosting the nation’s profile.

    AI encompasses a range of technologies and tools that have the potential to reshape Nigeria’s future. Some key AI technologies that are gaining prominence in the country are Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision, Block Chain, Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

    AI’s influence in Nigeria extends across various sectors, offering transformative possibilities in agriculture, healthcare, education, finance, energy

    AI can optimize crop management, increase yields, and enhance soil quality. It can help small-scale farmers make data-driven decisions, improving their livelihoods.

    AI-driven telemedicine, disease diagnosis, and healthcare analytics have the potential to revolutionize healthcare in Nigeria, improving access to quality medical services.

    Personalized learning platforms powered by AI can cater to diverse learning needs, even in remote areas, enhancing the quality of education.

    AI-driven fraud detection, credit scoring, and investment advisory services can make the financial sector more secure and efficient.

    AI can improve energy efficiency and optimize power distribution, reducing waste and ensuring reliable access to electricity.

    While AI holds immense promise, Nigeria faces several challenges and considerations on the path to harnessing the full potential of AI some of which includes, data accessibility, skill gap, infrastructure, regulation and ethical concerns,  financial investment.

    Ensuring access to quality and diverse data sources is critical for AI’s success. Data privacy and security must also be addressed. A skilled workforce is necessary to develop, implement, and maintain AI systems. Training and education programs are essential to bridge the skills gap. Adequate technological infrastructure, including high-speed internet and cloud computing services, is crucial for AI development. Developing AI regulations that promote innovation while ensuring ethical use is a complex task. Ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI applications is essential. Significant investments are required to support AI research, development, and implementation in various sectors.

    The journey toward embracing AI comes with challenges, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Nigeria stands at the threshold of a technological revolution, and it’s time to step up and seize the limitless possibilities of Artificial Intelligence. With the right investments, policies, and a motivated workforce, Nigeria can harness the power of AI to transform itself into a global technology hub, setting the stage for a brighter, more innovative future.

    • Samuel Jekeli, Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.

  • UoN using AI to predict pregnancy risks for women in Africa

    UoN using AI to predict pregnancy risks for women in Africa

    • Prof Moses Obimbo Madadi, leading Clinician-Scientist and Associate Professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

    Africa has the highest neonatal mortality rate in the world, with 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, comprehensive research on the relation between pregnancy loss and reproductive health issues are not as readily available.      

    What is known is that vaginal infections, including Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), could have serious implications for women’s reproductive health and their pregnancy outcomes. Critical research is needed to better understand the microorganisms present in various vaginal infections, and their role in particular pregnancy outcomes.

    Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and next-generation sequencing technology, my team of researchers at the University of Nairobi are breaking new ground in understanding how the vaginal microbiome and vaginal infections affect a woman’s reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes. This technology could enable us to identify whether women who deliver at term have a certain microbiome, compared to those experiencing pre-term birth.  

    This research is not only the first of its kind in Kenya – it is cutting edge research with significant tangible impact in improving pregnancy outcomes for women around the world. It also informs the development of faster and less invasive testing – such as a urine test – at the point of care, and potentially the development of more effective therapeutic treatments. If health workers can diagnose and treat an infection at the point of care, you mitigate risk to mother and baby, and reduce the cost of treatment.

    The risks of vaginal infections in pregnancy  

    Testing for vaginal infections – particularly asymptomatic infections such as bacterial vaginosis – is not routinely carried out in prenatal examinations. Healthcare providers seldom carry out a full screening for both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. They often do syphilis screening, and screenings in the case of premature rupture of the membranes, but there is no integrated approach for identifying asymptomatic infections.     

    Some studies indicate around 20% of women attending gynaecology clinics in Kenya have vaginal infections including bacterial vaginosis and parasitic infections, or STIs including syphilis, gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and Trichomonas vaginalis. However, data suggests that as many as 73% of women have asymptomatic vaginal infections. Left untreated, these infections can lead to multiple adverse outcomes for pregnancy and gynaecological health, such as miscarriages, preterm birth, foetal growth restriction, premature rupture of the membranes, stillbirth, and endometriosis or infertility for the mother. 

    Early identification and treatment of vaginal infections would reduce the scale of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, even where screening is carried out for vaginal infections, the process does not always have the desired outcomes, as the usual diagnostic method requires a vaginal swab, which can be seen as invasive and requires follow-up visits to receive the results and get treatment. 

    When patients are asked to return repeatedly, the financial cost and time involved for patients discourages follow-up care, resulting in the loss of precious time for treatment. Though nearly 90 percent of women in rural Kenya seek antenatal care, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), many wait until the second or third trimester, when it is too late for effective treatment. 

    Improving pregnancy outcomes     

    Our five-year research project includes screening and monitoring over 1,500 women attending six medical facilities in Kenya over two years. The research follows first, second and third trimester development, with a control group, live births, and women with outcomes of interest such as preterm or stillbirths.      

    Having acquired advanced tools such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines to analyse bacteria, and an Illumina MiSeq sequencer for targeted and microbial genome applications, we will use next generation sequencing and AI to analyse microbial communities, and metabolomic profiling to identify predictive and diagnostic signatures of adverse pregnancy outcomes.            

    In the third year of our research, we will work with computational biology doctoral students to develop an AI model to analyse the data and develop prediction models that could be used to identify at-risk pregnancies for early interventions. Our aim is to show how differences in the composition in the vaginal microbiome impact pregnancy outcomes.      

    As part of our work, we have established new collaborations with the international Vaginal Microbiome Research Consortium (VMRC), a body which works to improve understanding on the stability of the vaginal microbiota, and risk for disease or adverse gestational outcomes among other functions. 

    In future, we also plan to drive improved education and awareness of the link between vaginal infections including STIs and pregnancy outcomes. We will sensitise communities and healthcare workers for them to understand that looking out for vaginal infections should be one of the standard pillars of prenatal care. 

    By working to identify predictive biomarkers for adverse pregnancy outcomes, we may be able to improve reproductive health for women not only in Kenya, but around the world, and support health officials with better intervention strategies to support healthier pregnancy outcomes.

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    Moses Madadi Bio

    Moses Obimbo Madadi, Clinician-Scientist and Associate Professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, will form a coalition of researchers and develop tools to study the vaginal microbiome and metabolites during pregnancy to help identify predictive biomarkers and intervention strategies for improving pregnancy outcomes in Kenya. Africa carries a high burden of severe pregnancy complications such as stillbirths and neonatal deaths. To address this, Dr. Madadi is leveraging his broad experience in clinical, basic, and epidemiological research to establish a unique niche of translational research to support the health of women in Kenya and around the world. He will perform a prospective cohort study at four hospitals in Nairobi by collecting clinical data and vaginal samples from over 1500 pregnant women. He will use next generation sequencing to analyse microbial communities, and metabolomic profiling to identify predictive and diagnostic signatures of adverse pregnancy outcomes. These data will be used to develop artificial intelligence-assisted prediction models that could be used as valuable screening tools to identify at-risk pregnancies for early interventions

  • Researcher maps out how digital HR, AI are rewriting talent strategy rules

    Researcher maps out how digital HR, AI are rewriting talent strategy rules

    On a Monday morning in a bustling Lagos office, a manager scans his dashboard. It is not a simple attendance sheet. Instead, it offers a live forecast of who in her department might need new skills within the next year, which roles could face automation risk, and which high-potential employees might be ready for promotion. The predictions are drawn from thousands of data points, including performance reviews, project histories and training records, all processed in real time by an AI-powered human resource system.

    This scene is not science fiction. It is already happening, according to a new research by Derrick Afriyie, HR Change Management Analyst at the British Council in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. In a study published in the World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, Afriyie lays out a vision of the workplace where algorithms, agile feedback loops, and digital HR platforms have become core business tools, while employee trust and data protection have emerged as equally critical priorities.

    “In the near future, talent strategy and digital strategy will be indistinguishable,” Afriyie says. “Organisations that thrive will be the ones that anticipate change, adapt in real time, and keep trust at the center of their operations.”

    His research shows that integrated digital HR infrastructures are no longer just administrative support systems. Hosted in the cloud and powered by real-time analytics, these platforms consolidate performance tracking, career development pathways, compliance monitoring, and workforce planning into a single intelligent ecosystem. Executives can see a live portrait of workforce health, including who is excelling, who is struggling, where skill gaps are opening, and how external market shifts might affect talent supply.

    Yet the same systems that deliver these insights hold vast stores of sensitive employee information, making data governance a defining challenge. Afriyie warns that without strict classification protocols, clear consent management, and region-specific compliance measures, even the most advanced HR platforms can lose the confidence of both regulators and staff. His recommendations include tiered data access with categories such as public, internal, confidential, and restricted, mandatory encryption for sensitive files such as pay and medical records, and privacy dashboards tailored for local laws in each country where a company operates.

    The research also identifies one of the most striking cultural shifts in modern work, which is the decline of the annual performance review. For decades, these year-end appraisals defined employee evaluation. But in a fast-changing economy, waiting twelve months to give feedback or discuss career growth is operationally unsound. Many organisations are moving towards continuous, agile feedback in the form of weekly or monthly check-ins tied to specific projects or sprints. Digital tools now integrate with workplace applications like Slack or Outlook, sending prompts for managers to hold regular conversations. These systems encourage peer recognition alongside managerial input, turning performance management into an ongoing coaching process rather than a once-a-year judgment.

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    “Workforce planning is no longer about counting heads. It is about predicting, adapting, and protecting talent in real time,” the researcher says.

    Artificial intelligence plays a central role in this transformation. By analysing structured performance data, project histories, and even the sentiment in feedback, machine learning models can group employees by skill similarity, detect vulnerabilities in talent pipelines, and forecast supply-demand mismatches under various scenarios such as automation or new market entry. Natural language processing resumes, job postings, and internal feedback to create skill heat maps that reveal strengths and weaknesses across departments or regions.

    Afriyie offers a practical example. A junior analyst with growing technical skills in SQL and Tableau might be flagged as a strong candidate for a business intelligence role. The system could then suggest specific online courses, assign a mentor, and arrange shadowing opportunities, effectively creating a personalised career pathway aligned with both the employee’s aspirations and the company’s strategic needs.

    Analytics also help reveal when performance gaps are not the result of poor individual effort but outdated job roles. If several employees in the same position underperform despite training, predictive models may identify the role itself as misaligned with current business needs, prompting a redesign of responsibilities to match emerging demands from automation, hybrid work, or regulatory changes.

    To illustrate the practical impact of these strategies, Afriyie’s research turns to industry-specific examples. In manufacturing, predictive workforce planning tools identify job families most susceptible to automation and match those employees to reskilling programs that prepare them for new roles such as smart factory maintenance or supply chain planning. By simulating different redeployment scenarios, companies can ensure production remains stable while preserving decades of institutional knowledge.

    In financial services, where compliance is critical, predictive monitoring tools scan early warning signs in sensitive roles like risk officers and auditors. These systems might detect patterns such as delays in decision-making, shifts in communication tone, or frequent deviations from policy. Rather than penalizing employees, these alerts trigger mentoring, training, or job rotations designed to prevent burnout and safeguard ethical performance.

    While Afriyie is optimistic about the potential of AI and predictive analytics to make workforce planning more accurate and equitable, he is also clear about the risks. Algorithmic bias, digital fatigue, and ethical blind spots could undermine progress if left unchecked. He calls for explainable AI in HR, which means systems that offer transparent reasoning for decisions, especially in high-stakes cases like promotions, layoffs, or leadership appointments. Ethical frameworks must evolve alongside cultural contexts, and predictive tools must integrate with other business systems to form a unified “talent intelligence” layer.

    The study closes with a future-focused outlook. As automation advances, markets shift, and regulations tighten, the organisations that excel will be those that weave together people, processes, and platforms into an intelligent, responsive whole. Workforce planning, Afriyie insists, has moved from a quiet back-office activity to a strategic conversation in the boardroom, one that shapes the future direction and resilience of the enterprise.

  • Wigwe: AI, analytics aids banks, competitiveness

    Leveraging technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and utilising data analytics, is imperative if banks and financial technology (fintechs) are to remain competitive, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr Herbert O. Wigwe, said at the weekend.

    Speaking on The future of Intelligent Bank at AFF Disrupt 2019 held at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, he said, the world is witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution which uses the Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud Technology to automate processes.

    This, he said, has enabled financial service providers to increase their digital offerings for customers so they can conduct banking transactions on mobile phones, the internet, and at the automated teller machine (ATM).

    The only waiting time today is how fast the internet connection is, Wigwe said, adding that 5G is already around the corner.

    He said: “With the prolific opportunities digital banking brings, banks are now competing on the nature of innovation that can provide solutions, handle and predict customer behaviour in an incredible fast manner. Even though banking has come this far, the future holds a lot more than what the past has ever held. Today, becoming an Intelligent bank is not an option, it’s a necessity; technology is redefining the way banks operate.

    “AI, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Virtual Reality, Cryptocurrency all bring enormous opportunities for banks to significantly improve the way customers access and manage finances.

    “Thanks to automation technology, banks and fintech’s are able to grant credit in seconds! AI reviews legal documents. A manual review of 12,000 documents use to take 360,000 hours, but today, this can be done in seconds using AI.”

  • Wigwe: AI, analytics imperative for banks, fintechs’ competitiveness

    Leveraging technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and utilising data analytics, is imperative if banks and financial technology (fintechs) are to remain competitive, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr Herbert O. Wigwe, said at the weekend.

    Speaking on The future of Intelligent Bank at AFF Disrupt 2019 held at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, he said, the world is witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution which uses the Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud Technology to automate processes.

    This, he said, has enabled financial service providers to increase their digital offerings for customers so they can conduct banking transactions on mobile phones, the internet, and at the automated teller machine (ATM).

    The only waiting time today is how fast the internet connection is, Wigwe said, adding that 5G is already around the corner.

    He said: “With the prolific opportunities digital banking brings, banks are now competing on the nature of innovation that can provide solutions, handle and predict customer behaviour in an incredible fast manner. Even though banking has come this far, the future holds a lot more than what the past has ever held. Today, becoming an Intelligent bank is not an option, it’s a necessity; technology is redefining the way banks operate.

    “AI, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Virtual Reality, Cryptocurrency all bring enormous opportunities for banks to significantly improve the way customers access and manage finances.

    “Thanks to automation technology, banks and fintech’s are able to grant credit in seconds! AI reviews legal documents. A manual review of 12,000 documents use to take 360,000 hours, but today, this can be done in seconds using AI.

    “Blockchain can be used to execute smart contracts, eliminating manual costs of transactions;  Robotics technology is used to serve customers in banks. Only one decade ago, we could not have imagined such advances. And there is so much that can be done with data.

    “Big Data Analytics helps an intelligent bank understand its customers. This data categorises customers and analyses their behaviour and needs. Such understanding improves product development and enables effective cross and up-selling. Cloud Technology has also been a game-changer for banks. It reduces server and infrastructure costs, which is most appreciated in a country like Nigeria, where power generation is expensive, and its availability is not usually guaranteed. Cloud technology enables the delivery of work from any location … where programmers can be based in multiple countries yet be working on the same project.”

    According to him, intelligent banks are able to consider the impact of having an active online presence and social media for their business.

    Banks can target social media for specific advertising ensuring they provide the right product and content to the right customer instead of marketing all products to all customers.

    “In this sense, banking has become much more tailored and personal. Intelligent Banks partner with critical stakeholders to expand the frontiers of their business. For example, the opportunities that exist from partnering with Fintech’s are enormous.  Imagine instant cross-country payments between businesses that do not necessarily have a presence in those countries. Imagine third parties connecting to APIs to open accounts and making instant international payments. And partnering with Fintechs offers banks an opportunity to earn revenue from transaction sharing.

    “At Access Bank, we are acutely aware that AI is the new cool in banking offering ongoing opportunities to enhance convenience for our customers. We are in constant pursuit of being the best possible Intelligent Bank. Our applications of intelligent banking range from the review of legal documents, to conversing digitally with our customers. Our TAMADA system presents a single chatbot experience for all our customers.”

  • Firms adopt AI to boost manpower

    A set of Human resources (HR)-related start-ups focused on combining AI, a process of automation, consulting, referrals, and match-making, has emerged across the country. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Artificial intelligence (AI), the theory and development of computer systems, which performs tasks that require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages, is fast establishing itself as a game-changer in recruiting. It is enabling organisations to find and hire the right candidates.

    Consequently, fast-growing Human resources (HR) start-ups are emerging to change recruiting, payroll, training and people’s management. One of them, Proten International, established by United Kingdom-trained motivational speaker, Ope Onaboye, is promoting an automated ranking that matches applicants with firms searching for new hires.

    He said finding the right people to hire had become more difficult, adding that employers are unable to find people with the right skills.

    He stressed that hiring had been difficult, even with an abundance of applicants.

    He added that determining which candidate would be the best fit for an organisation is a critical decision and the cost of a bad hire is high.

    Onaboye said AI is changing recruiting, helping agencies to discover and hire tech talent.

    He maintained that AI, when applied to talent sourcing, enhance and speed up hiring by allowing recruiters and hiring managers to identify candidates from a pool. This is because it looks beyond a resume to access information from various sources that give them deeper, broader insight. Using AI, Onaboye said, recruiters are able to help define a job posting’s “perfect fit,” better identify strong candidates from search pools, and improve their ability to fill job openings fast.

    He said the company was determined to create an HR-management and recruiting platform.

    Onaboye said the platform would help to provide organisations with valuable insights on prospective employees they are going to work with.

    He said the platform will use AI driven chatbots in pre-application phases to provide two-way conversations both in fielding questions from job seekers and evaluating candidate responses. Through video features that will be incorporated in the platform, he said organisations would eliminate candidates that might look good to a manager, but lack the skills or traits necessary for long-term success.

    He explained that AI could help unearth candidates missed by traditional screening, sourcing and recruiting methods, even if a candidate’s résumé doesn’t appear to be relevant, perhaps they have soft skills, leadership experience or other skills that an organisation may need.

    He noted that AI eliminates this bias by assisting recruiters. Besides, it saves recruiters time and money by filtering candidates various criteria that look beyond typical screening.