Experts urge Nigeria to fast-track the development of homegrown AI tools to enhance data privacy and safeguard Africa’s digital assets from external exploitation. This call-to-action emerged during the AI Summit in Abuja, where technology leaders and policy makers assessed Africa’s vulnerabilities in the global data landscape. Despite generating substantial digital content utilized by global firms, Africa lacks control over its online data, with participants emphasizing the need for adequate compensation, not just monetary, for its contributions. Stronger public awareness is crucial for citizens to demand accountability from companies. Dr. Oluwaseun Adepoju highlighted the importance of local control for technological growth, advocating for robust data protection laws and community-driven data donation platforms. Linguistic inclusion and improved data literacy were also stressed to help Africans understand their data rights. Overall, fostering local AI systems reflective of African cultures will empower the continent in shaping the global AI narrative.
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