This was the focus of a webinar on AI governance, held at the headquarters of NHRC, Abuja yesterday.
In his keynote address, NHRC Executive Secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, underscored AI’s transformative potential, but warned against its risks to human rights.
He noted that while AI would drive innovation, economic growth and efficiency, it would also raise concerns, such as algorithmic bias, privacy invasion and widening inequalities.
“The commission perceives this, not as a threat, but as an extraordinary opportunity to expand its mandate in the digital space.
“We are poised to chart a course that integrates our core human rights commitments with the emerging field of AI governance, ensuring that technological progress aligns with dignity, equality and justice,” Ojukwu stated
He outlined the commission’s strategy for AI governance, emphasising the need for regulatory engagement to ensure transparency, accountability and auditability of AI systems.
He stressed that despite AI’s growing sophistication, human oversight remained essential to preventing ethical breaches.
He also highlighted the commission’s role as a bridge between government institutions, private sector players, academia and civil society, and fostering collaboration to develop inclusive AI policies, stressing that aligning AI governance with international human rights standards, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, remained a priority for the NHRC.
According to him, the commission has also established a dedicated unit under the Legal Services and Enforcement Department to monitor AI’s human rights impact and create mechanisms for redress.
As AI becomes more embedded in daily life, Ojukwu stressed the importance of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in AI development, urging tech companies to conduct impact assessments, enforce compliance, and provide accessible channels for those whose rights might be affected.
He emphasised the need for clear accountability measures for both public and private actors, warning that without proper oversight, AI could pose significant risks to fundamental rights.
He added: “The NHRC’s AI governance strategy builds upon existing policies, including the NHRC’s Human Rights Due Diligence Framework, which has now been expanded to cover digital technologies, as well as National Data Protection Regulations and International Guidelines on Ethical AI, tailored to Nigeria and the broader African context.”
Ojukwu urged policymakers, business leaders, and civil society actors to collaborate in shaping AI policies to uphold human dignity, warning that failure to do so could lead to unintended consequences. He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring that AI innovation does not come at the expense of fundamental rights.
