Africa Must Not Be Left Out of the Global AI Revolution – Oluwaseun Dania

New York, USA – Managing Director of Alpha-Geek Technologies and African technology advocate, Oluwaseun Dania, has declared that Africa’s 1.4 billion people cannot be sidelined in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting during the launch of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, Dania underscored that Africa—home to the world’s youngest workforce—must play a decisive role in shaping the future of AI.

“The success of the AI revolution should not be measured merely by GDP spikes but by lives uplifted. Africa is not just an early adopter of mobile-first AI; we are poised to be a co-creator of its future. In a world where AI is reshaping destinies, this dialogue must ensure no continent or community is left behind,” he declared.

AI’s promise and peril for Africa

Dania spotlighted the transformative potential of AI for Africa, noting how it could help nations leapfrog infrastructure gaps, build secure digital economies, and accelerate inclusive growth. He referenced Africa’s thriving fintech ecosystem and pioneering stablecoin initiatives as proof of the continent’s readiness to lead.

At the same time, he cautioned against AI’s “shadows”:

• Deepfakes undermining trust.
• Biased algorithms reinforcing inequality.
• Unchecked data monopolies widening the North-South divide.

Nigeria’s proactive model

Dania praised Nigeria’s National AI Strategy (April 2025), launched under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Communications Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani, describing it as a continental benchmark.

The strategy—developed through the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR)—is projected to:

• Drive 27% annual AI market growth through 2030.
• Contribute $15 billion to GDP.
• Equip 70% of Nigeria’s youth workforce with AI skills by 2030.

Three guiding pillars for global AI governance

To ensure fairness, Dania urged that AI governance frameworks be inclusive and representative, warning that they cannot be “drafted in the echo chambers of Silicon Valley or the closed boardrooms of Geneva.”

He proposed three core pillars for the global AI agenda:

1. Equitable access – innovation that is open and inclusive.
2. Ethical safeguards – African-led standards to address bias, inequality, and privacy risks.
3. Resilient infrastructure – deploying AI for public good, from pandemic prediction to energy optimization, while preventing weaponization.

“Africa is ready to co-create”

Dania framed the Global Dialogue on AI Governance as a covenant for fairness and justice, insisting that Africa’s voice must be heard.

“Africa is ready to co-create, not merely comply. This is our moment to shape the future together,” he concluded.

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