Africa moves to strengthen AI governance
African policymakers, technology experts, and civil society leaders have launched a new initiative to improve ethical oversight of artificial intelligence across the continent.
The programme, called the Pan-African AI Ethics and Governance Fellowship, aims to build safer, inclusive, and accountable AI systems.
As AI adoption grows rapidly, governments and businesses across Africa continue to explore new digital tools.
As a result, sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, finance, and public administration now rely more on emerging technologies.
However, this growth has also raised concerns about governance, accountability, and social risks.
To address this, the Policy Innovation Centre partnered with the Africa Hub for Innovation & Development, with support from Luminate.
Fellowship to train African professionals
The 12-week virtual fellowship will bring together more than 50 mid- and senior-level professionals across Africa.
Participants will come from government agencies, regulatory institutions, universities, civil society groups, media organisations, and private firms.
During the programme, they will receive expert-led training, mentorship, and policy lab sessions.
In addition, organisers will focus on practical governance tools tailored to African realities.
The fellowship also seeks to tackle major issues such as algorithmic bias, weak regulation, misuse of personal data, and the exclusion of vulnerable communities.
Therefore, organisers believe stronger institutional knowledge can improve responsible AI adoption.
Organisers push for stronger African leadership
Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, said Africa must take a stronger role in shaping AI rules.
According to him, the fellowship moves beyond discussion and focuses on practical action.
“This fellowship is designed to move beyond conversations on AI and focus on building practical governance capacity across African institutions,” Dirisu said.
Furthermore, he explained that the programme would raise leaders who can guide ethical AI development.
He added that those leaders would help ensure AI systems remain inclusive and serve public interest.
In the same way, African institutions are working to balance innovation with stronger protections.
Experts stress collaboration and regulation
Across the continent, experts continue to debate major AI concerns.
These include surveillance, misinformation, data ownership, labour displacement, and automated decisions.
Meanwhile, several African countries have introduced AI strategies and digital transformation plans.
Despite this progress, implementation remains uneven across many regions.
Regulatory capacity also differs from country to country.
Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Hub for Innovation & Development, Dr. Kunle Kakanfo, said the fellowship would encourage collaboration.
Specifically, he said the programme would create stronger networks among professionals facing similar policy challenges.
It would also support knowledge sharing and long-term reforms.
Nigeria expands role in Africa’s AI ecosystem
The launch further highlights Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s technology policy space.
National Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Dr. Olubunmi Ajala, described the initiative as a strategic response to a major technological shift.
According to him, weak governance could create risks beyond technical failures.
For this reason, he stressed the need for stronger ethical oversight as AI tools continue to expand globally.
Likewise, participants said the fellowship would help close the gap between innovation and regulation.
They believe it will support better decision-making across Africa’s digital economy.
Ultimately, organisers said the initiative will build a long-term network of AI governance professionals.
This network will help shape fair, responsible, and inclusive AI policies across the continent.
