‏…Call for regulatory framework for use of AI in biological sciences in Nigeria

Nigerian scientists and public health experts have called for greater investment in locally generated health data and homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) systems, warning that Africa risks being left behind if it continues to depend largely on technologies and datasets developed outside the continent.

The experts spoke at the 4th Annual scientific Symposium organised by the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE) of the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria (IHVN) in Abuja where researchers, government representatives, academics and industry stakeholders examined the future of public health research under the theme, “Shaping the Future of Public Health Research: Sustainable Funding, AI/ML and Innovation.”

Speaking at the event, Associate Professor of Infectious Disease, Pathogen Genomics & Molecular Epidemiology at the Adeleke University, Ede, Dr Oladipo Elijah Kolawole said African countries must begin developing AI systems trained on African datasets so that emerging technologies can produce results that are relevant to the continent’s population.

Speaking on the use of AI in whole-genome sequencing, Kolawole said the technology could accelerate the development of innovative health products, including biologics, therapeutics and advanced diagnostic tools.

According to him, although AI adoption is increasing, much of the technology currently available has been developed in the Western world using datasets that may not adequately represent African populations.

“We need African AI that is developed using African datasets and is reported to Africans, so that most of the results that we have from that AI will be tailored to the usage of African populations,” he said.

He, however, warned that the rapid development of AI also presents serious safety and ethical challenges, particularly in biological research.

Kolawole called for a national policy and regulatory framework governing the use of AI in biological sciences, noting that the technology could potentially be used to create dangerous biological agents.

He said recent advances had demonstrated how AI could be used to generate biological designs that previously did not exist, making regulation increasingly urgent.

“Because it is much easier to sit in your house and use a lot of AI, there should be a policy framework from the national level to ensure that when we are in that world, we are being regulated,” he added.

He noted that Artificial Intelligence enhanced whole Genome Sequencing for disease surveillance from genomic data to actionable public health intelligence .

According to him, the future of disease surveillance is not sequencing more genomes; but extracting intelligence fast enough to change the trajectory of an outbreak.”

He pointed out that disease surveillance Is entering a new era from counting cases to characterising transmission adding that Al does not replace sequencing but increases the speed, scalability and interpretability of genomic surveillance, converting complex sequence data into decision-ready signals.

Also speaking, renowned virologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Prof Oyewale Tomori, said AI could help Nigeria make faster, better and more cost-effective decisions by bringing together large volumes of information that would otherwise be difficult for individuals and institutions to analyse.

Tomori said the benefits of AI should extend beyond laboratories and hospitals to broader areas of national development.

He explained that improved infrastructure, including access to clean water and efficient roads, could have significant public health consequences, and AI could help policymakers analyse the connections between these factors and health outcomes.

“If you give your people access to water, it will reduce the effects of waterborne diseases. If you do your roads, it means people can get quick access to services,” he said.

According to him, AI can help bring together information from different sectors, enabling policymakers to identify better options, save time and reduce costs.

In her welcome remarks, Executive Director of IRCE and Professor at the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, said the future of African research would depend not only on scientific innovation but also on the ability of countries to build sustainable research ecosystems.

She noted that traditional research funding mechanisms were becoming increasingly constrained even as expectations for measurable impact continued to rise.

Abimiku said African researchers must therefore rethink how research is conceived, funded, conducted and translated into practical interventions.

“Sustainable research ecosystems cannot rely solely on external support,” she said, calling for strategic national investment, stronger partnerships and policies that recognise research as a driver of development.

She said the continent needed resilient institutions capable of conducting high-quality research over the long term.

AI must complement human expertise

While highlighting the transformative potential of AI and machine learning in public health, Abimiku cautioned that the technology must be deployed ethically, transparently and equitably.

 

She said AI could strengthen disease surveillance, improve diagnostics, predict outbreaks, optimise health systems and create efficiencies within African research institutions.

 

However, she stressed that AI should complement rather than replace human expertise.

 

“AI complements human expertise rather than replace man’s critical judgement, compassion, and contextual understanding that remain at the heart of public health research,” she said.

 

For the first time, IRCE also introduced a pre-symposium AI hackathon aimed at giving young and early-career researchers an opportunity to experiment with emerging AI innovations.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), while speaking at the symposium, also stressed the importance of locally generated data in tackling Nigeria’s health challenges.

 

He commended IRCE for championing research and innovation capable of generating evidence to guide government policies and interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations.

 

He said locally generated data would enable policymakers to better understand the country’s health challenges and design interventions suited to the realities of Nigerian communities.

 

The NACA Director-General said the agency was advocating increased domestic resource allocation for health while exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to strengthen data analysis, public health services and disease surveillance.

He said the symposium provided an opportunity for researchers from across Nigeria to showcase their work, exchange knowledge and return to their institutions with innovations capable of improving health interventions.

The symposium brought together researchers, policymakers, academics, industry partners, students and other stakeholders for keynote presentations, plenary sessions and panel discussions focused on the future of public health research in Africa.