The National Human Rights Commission NHRC has called for the establishment of ethical and legal frameworks to guide the development and use of Artificial Intelligence AI in Nigeria, emphasizing the need to align technological advancement with the protection of human rights.
The call was made in a statement commemorating the 2025 World Press Freedom Day, signed by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, underscored the importance of regulating AI to prevent its misuse and ensure that it supports, rather than undermines, fundamental freedoms. He revealed that the Commission would soon issue an advisory on the responsible deployment of AI in Nigeria.
AI development must be anchored in human rights principles, Ojukwu said. While AI has the potential to enhance journalism through improved content creation, investigative reporting, research, and fact-checking, it can equally be exploited to spread misinformation, perpetrate cyberbullying, emotional abuse, and incite violence.
