Oladele Temidayo, Nigerian entrepreneur, AI researcher and advocate, recently shared his insights on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in amplifying social justice movements, with a particular focus on the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria. Known for his innovative approach, Temidayo has earned various remarks from his recently published paper titled “Social Unrest Prediction Through Sentiment Analysis on Twitter Using Support Vector Machine: Experimental Study on Nigeria’s #EndSARS”.

He believes AI has the potential to reshape activism and enhance the impact of social justice efforts globally.

According to Temidayo, AI can be a powerful tool for social movements, particularly in analyzing public sentiment. “AI enables us to track real-time sentiment, allowing movements to react swiftly to public emotions and harness this data to amplify important messages,” he explained. Through tools like sentiment analysis and predictive modeling, AI can identify patterns in public sentiment, pinpoint key moments of tension, and allow activists to plan actions more strategically.

However, he emphasized the need for ethical safeguards, warning that AI systems must be designed to avoid biases and ensure that they accurately reflect diverse voices, especially those that are often underrepresented.

Drawing from his experience during the #EndSARS protests, Temidayo highlighted how sentiment analysis was crucial in understanding the evolving emotions of Nigerians as the movement gained momentum. “Sentiment analysis helped us identify the critical moments when public frustration peaked and allowed us to measure the level of support for the movement across different demographics,” he said. This ability to capture real-time shifts in sentiment, according to Temidayo, is vital in social movements, where public opinion can change rapidly, especially in response to government actions or media coverage.

He also shared that one of the key lessons from the #EndSARS movement was the importance of incorporating localized data into AI models. “The language used by protesters, the specific slang and dialects, were unique to Nigerian culture. Traditional sentiment analysis models often miss these nuances,” Temidayo explained. To address this, his team worked on adapting AI models to understand Nigerian English and regional expressions, ensuring the models accurately captured the sentiment of the protesters. “By doing this, we avoided skewed results and ensured that the voices of all groups, from urban youth to rural communities, were reflected,” he added.

AI’s potential extends beyond activism, with Temidayo also discussing how it can contribute to social good in developing regions, particularly in Africa. While challenges such as limited data access and infrastructure remain, AI presents opportunities to address issues such as public health, financial inclusion, and disaster response. “AI can empower African communities, providing insights into local problems and helping to design solutions that are both scalable and sustainable,” he said.

By working closely with local stakeholders and community members, Temidayo believes AI solutions can be developed in a way that aligns with the unique needs of each region.

Another area where AI could have a transformative impact, according to Temidayo, is financial inclusion. In underserved communities, where access to traditional banking services is limited, AI can enable more accurate credit scoring and improve fraud detection. AI-powered fintech solutions can use alternative data, such as mobile phone usage or spending patterns, to assess creditworthiness, allowing more people to access loans and financial services. “AI can bring banking to the unbanked, making it more accessible and tailored to the needs of individuals in remote or underserved areas,” he said.

Temidayo stressed the importance of collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and the public in ensuring AI is used responsibly. “Researchers can provide the technical expertise, while policymakers can help implement regulations that ensure these tools are used ethically and transparently,” he said. Public engagement is crucial, as communities must have a voice in shaping how AI is deployed in ways that respect privacy and promote equity.

As AI continues to evolve, Temidayo’s vision remains clear: technology should serve the greater good, amplifying voices that may otherwise go unheard and addressing the most pressing social challenges of our time. By integrating AI into movements like #EndSARS and leveraging its capabilities in sectors like fintech, Temidayo believes we are just beginning to see the potential of what AI can achieve for social justice and societal progress.