Engage Youth Africa Initiative (EYAI) has called on the African government to establish policies and regulatory frameworks for the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that reflect the continent’s realities and priorities.

Founder of the organisation, Gbolahan Oyelakin, warned that failure to develop local standards for Artificial Intelligence could leave African countries overly dependent on foreign technological systems and models.

He spoke during the 2026 Inter-School Girls in ICT Day Competition held at CMS Grammar School to commemorate International Girls in ICT Day.

The event, organised by Engage Youth Africa Initiative in partnership with Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative, brought together secondary school students for training sessions and innovation-based activities focused on Artificial Intelligence and digital technology.

According to Oyelakin, governments have a major responsibility in regulating and standardising the use of AI to ensure that technological advancement aligns with local cultural, economic and social realities.

He said AI has become a global reality that African countries must actively engage with rather than depend entirely on systems developed outside the continent.

Oyelakin noted that many sectors of African society already mirror foreign models in governance, culture and economic systems, warning that a similar pattern could emerge in Artificial Intelligence if governments fail to intervene.

He stressed the need for African countries to develop frameworks that would guide how AI is adopted and used within their societies.

The EYAI founder also described Artificial Intelligence as a human-created system designed to improve productivity and enhance human intelligence rather than replace it.

He added that younger generations are growing up in a technology-driven environment, making it important to expose students early to responsible and productive uses of AI.

As part of its long-term plans, Oyelakin disclosed that the organisation intends to collaborate with the host school to establish an AI centre aimed at promoting technology inclusion in secondary school education.

He said: “Government has a lot to do in terms of regulation, standardisation and promoting the use of AI. Artificial intelligence has come to stay. Government needs to create standards around the development and use of AI, particularly within the African and Nigerian context.”

The way developed economies are utilising AI can be imposed on us if governments fail to create standards around its development and usage. The way an African uses technology is different from the way foreigners use technology. Government must ensure AI aligns with our realities, culture, and economy,” he said.

Head of Instructional Design at Tech4Dev, Adewumi Adeyemo, also spoke on the opportunities and risks associated with Artificial Intelligence.

In his presentation, titled: “Artificial Intelligence for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future,” Adeyemo highlighted the use of AI across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing.

He, however, warned students against the dangers of deepfakes, misinformation and unsafe handling of personal information while using AI platforms.

Programme Director of EYAI, Mark Chibizo Mbata, said the organisation was committed to preparing African youths for a future increasingly driven by technology and digital innovation.

He called for stronger collaboration between government institutions and private organisations to expand access to AI education and digital training programmes for young Nigerians.

The event also featured an inter-school challenge where students demonstrated their understanding of Artificial Intelligence through group-based activities and presentations.