CIPM pushes for ethical use of AI in Nigeria

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has urged for responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). They want organisations, policymakers, and schools to mix innovation with ethics, accountability, and human values as AI changes the workplace.

This call came during the third International Academic Conference organised by CIPM and the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management at the University of Lagos. The theme was “Artificial Intelligence in Academia, Industry and Government: Ethics, Innovation and Impact.”

At the conference, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, said the talk about AI should go beyond whether it will change society. Instead, he said it should focus on how stakeholders can guide that change responsibly.

He pointed out that without ethics in innovation and accountability in technology, there are serious risks. Institutions and organisations must make sure that fairness, transparency, inclusion, and respect for human dignity are key when using AI.

Gobir emphasized that even with fast technological changes, people are still the most important part of any successful organisation. “Algorithms do not build trust. People build trust. Machines do not create culture. People create culture,” he said.

In his keynote speech, Professor Sunday Adebisi called AI “the world’s new infrastructure.” He noted that AI has gone beyond just being a tool at work; it now shapes education, governance, production, and communication.

While he talked about the great chances AI offers, Adebisi warned that Africa has challenges that may prevent it from fully using this technology. These challenges include poor digital infrastructure, lack of ICT skills, regulatory issues, ethical problems, and unequal access to technology.

Another speaker, Mr. Henry Onukuba, described AI as one of the biggest innovations of our time. He said it can change productivity, service delivery, and access to information.

Onukuba mentioned that AI could make education more accessible by closing information gaps. It can give learners in remote areas the same resources that students in cities have.

He also said that AI could help solve faculty shortages in Nigerian universities and improve education outcomes. “AI will not take over your job. Your job will be taken over by someone who knows how to work smarter and more effectively with AI,” he said.

Professor Oluseyi Shadare, the Chairman of the Academic Conference and Head of the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management at the University of Lagos, called the conference theme timely and relevant. He said AI is bringing chances for innovation and competitiveness but also raises issues like job loss, privacy, inequality, and ethical use of technology.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Abdul-Hameed Sulaimon, praised CIPM and the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management for the conference. He encouraged the participants to use what they learned at the event in their organisations to promote sustainable development and innovation.

The conference also celebrated outstanding research work from scholars. Out of 47 abstracts submitted, 38 papers passed the review for full presentation. At the end, Dr. Aramide Kuforiji was named the best researcher. Professor Sam Bodunrin and Dr. Ifeanyi Enukorah came second and third respectively.