The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has called for responsible use of social media while highlighting the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving progress across various sectors in Nigeria.

Ndume said that social media plays a greater role than most other nonprint media and other forms of communication.

He disclosed this in Abuja during the Nigeria Institute of Social Media Analyst (NISMA), Induction Ceremony with the theme “Navigating The Future: The Crucial Role of AI in the Virtual Society”.

He emphasised the need to leverage AI responsibly and adapt it to Nigeria’s unique challenges.

Ndume, who was honored as the Grand Patron of NISMA during the ceremony, expressed concern over the unregulated nature of Nigeria’s social media space.

He said: “For Nigeria, a country with over 33 million active social media users, leveraging AI can unlock immense opportunities. It can support small businesses in targeting customers, helping advocacy groups to amplify their voices, and empowering individuals to participate more actively in governance.

“But this is not without responsibility. We must localise AI applications to address the unique challenges of our society, such as logistic diversity, infrastructure limitations and digital literacy gaps. Social media must be equipped with skills to adapt AI technology to this local context with robotic inclusivity and equity.”

In his remarks, the Provost of NISMA, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, hailed the role of AI in shaping the digital future, emphasising its growing influence in analyzing data, shaping policies, and guiding corporate strategies.

He urged social media analysts to embrace ethical practices while leveraging AI’s capabilities.

“As we gather here today, we find ourselves at the intersection of unprecedented technological advancements and a rapidly evolving digital society. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept confined to sci-fi novels; it is a reality, a tool, and, indeed, a partner in how we analyse, create, and interact within the virtual world,” he said.

Also speaking, an associate at Pandora AI, Mr. Tosin Matthew, highlighted AI’s transformative impact on industries such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance.

He underscored the importance of investing in AI research, infrastructure, and education to realise its potential.

Matthew said, “AI is already embedded in our daily lives, from social media to banking apps. The challenge is understanding its role and intentionally leveraging it to address pressing issues like insecurity in Nigeria.”

He underscored the role of AI in fostering innovation and progress while emphasising responsibility and inclusivity in its adoption.