Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Academics from the University of Ilorin and RUDN University, Russia, have called for the indigenisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) knowledge and deployment of home-grown technological solutions in addressing insecurity and other socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria.

The call was made by the academics while engaging newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, ahead of the institution’s fourth Biennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology, RUDN University, Russia.

In her address, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, said the conference would focus on “Disruptive Technology, Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy.”

According to her, the conference, scheduled for May 12 to 15, 2026, would examine how technological innovations have transformed business, communication and human interactions globally, especially within the digital economy.

She said the conference would also feature a pre-conference workshop for postgraduate students and early career academics aimed at improving research writing, publication skills and academic development.

“We have noticed that when people come into academics, one of the major fears they have is how to write acceptable academic papers and articles. We want to help young academics overcome those fears,” she said.

Abdulbaqi noted that previous editions of the conference had exposed participants to the developmental potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially in the use of social media for national growth and productive engagement.

She, however, cautioned against blind reliance on AI-generated outputs, stressing the need for verification and fact-checking.

“AI does not claim perfection. It can make mistakes. Users must verify whatever information they obtain and not accept everything hook, line and sinker,” she said.

Also speaking, a Professor of Computer Science at the university of Ilorin, Amos Bajeh, said Nigeria must move beyond being merely a consumer of technology to becoming a producer of AI-driven innovations.

He explained that effective use of AI depends largely on proper prompt engineering and users’ understanding of how to interact with the technology.

“The result AI gives you is as good as the prompt you generate for it. That is why prompt engineering is important,” he said.

Bajeh said the conference would explore practical ways of deploying AI for national development, including security surveillance, data analysis and indigenous language translation.

On insecurity, he said AI could assist security agencies in tracking criminal activities and predicting threats through data analysis and digital monitoring.

“We can apply AI in surveillance and in analysing data from social media. It can help trace criminals, predict their movements and support intelligence gathering,” he added.

Representing RUDN University, Associate Prof. Mustapha Muhammad Jamiu, called for stronger localisation of AI knowledge to reflect African realities and peculiarities.

Jamiu, an Ilorin indigene based in Russia, said African countries must leverage AI tools while also developing indigenous technological solutions capable of addressing local needs.

“We are more of consumers of technology than producers. But AI has now created opportunities for us to begin to create our own solutions,” he said.

He added that excessive dependence on foreign AI systems could expose African societies to cultural and ideological biases embedded in existing global AI models.

According to him, indigenous AI models built around local languages and realities would help bridge the digital divide and improve accessibility.

The scholars also stressed the need for government support, improved funding for education and stronger policies that would encourage AI research and innovation among Nigerian youths.

Abdulbaqi disclosed that the conference had attracted participants and paper presentations from countries including Russia, Malaysia, Algeria, Morocco, Ghana and the United States.

She said the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, would deliver the keynote address at the conference.

The dean further appreciated the support of the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Central Bank of Nigeria as well as other corporate bodies and individuals for their supporter for the conference.

The organisers said a communique containing policy recommendations and AI-driven solutions to societal problems would be released at the end of the conference.