By George Ozalla
The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio declaring that the country must take the lead in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence rather than remain a passive consumer of emerging technologies.
Akpabio made the declaration on Thursday while declaring open a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security on two landmark bills seeking to establish a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy and mandate major social media companies operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country. The Senate President was represented at the event by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru.
He said Nigeria’s growing digital population and expanding technology ecosystem make it imperative for the country to enact laws that promote innovation while safeguarding national interests.
According to him, artificial intelligence is already reshaping economies, governance, education, healthcare, agriculture, finance and security across the world, making it necessary for Nigeria to build the capacity required to compete globally.
“We must not merely consume the products of artificial intelligence developed elsewhere; we must position ourselves to create, innovate and lead,” he said, adding that the proposed National Artificial Intelligence Academy represents a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
On the bill seeking to compel global social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria, Akpabio said the proposal should not be misconstrued as an attempt to discourage investment or restrict freedom of expression.
Rather, he explained, it is intended to strengthen corporate accountability, improve engagement between technology companies and Nigerian authorities, create employment opportunities for citizens and ensure that companies benefiting immensely from Nigeria’s digital market maintain a meaningful presence within the country.
Earlier, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, said the public hearing was organised to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to make meaningful contributions before the committee concludes work on the two bills.
He described both legislative proposals as strategic interventions aimed at preparing Nigeria for the demands of the digital age while creating a regulatory environment that encourages innovation, investment and responsible technology deployment.
According to Salisu, compelling major social media platforms to establish physical offices in Nigeria would improve regulatory engagement, facilitate prompt resolution of complaints, strengthen consumer protection and enhance compliance with Nigerian laws, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
He said the proposed National Artificial Intelligence Academy would serve as a centre of excellence for research, innovation, training and manpower development, helping to produce the skilled workforce needed to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The committee chairman assured participants that every memorandum and recommendation presented during the hearing would be carefully examined before the committee submits its report to the Senate.
Presenting the Bill to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to mandate the establishment of physical offices by social media platforms operating in Nigeria, its sponsor, Senator Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, said the legislation has become necessary because multinational technology companies continue to generate substantial revenue from Nigeria without maintaining adequate operational presence in the country.
He argued that Nigeria, as one of Africa’s largest digital markets, deserves the same level of corporate commitment that such companies demonstrate in other major jurisdictions.
According to Nwoko, having physical offices in Nigeria would improve communication with regulators, facilitate tax compliance, enhance consumer protection, create employment opportunities for Nigerians and strengthen enforcement of existing laws governing digital operations.
He stressed that the bill is neither punitive nor protectionist but seeks to promote fairness, accountability and responsible corporate conduct in Nigeria’s digital space.
Nwoko maintained that countries across the world are demanding greater accountability from multinational technology companies and Nigeria should not be left behind.
Also presenting his proposal, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, sponsor of the Bill for an Act to establish the National Artificial Intelligence Academy, said artificial intelligence has become one of the defining technologies of the modern era and Nigeria must deliberately invest in developing the knowledge and skills required to maximise its enormous opportunities.
He said the proposed academy would provide specialised education, advanced research, professional training and innovation in artificial intelligence while promoting collaboration among government institutions, universities, research centres, the private sector and international partners.
According to him, the academy would not only prepare Nigerian youths for future careers but also encourage home-grown innovations capable of supporting economic diversification and national development.
Stakeholders from government institutions, academia, the technology industry and civil society organisations generally welcomed the two bills, describing them as timely initiatives capable of strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.
Many participants supported the proposal requiring global social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria, noting that local presence would improve customer service, facilitate engagement with regulatory authorities, accelerate dispute resolution and deepen compliance with Nigerian laws.
They also argued that such offices would encourage direct investment, create jobs, support local technology professionals and promote stronger collaboration between multinational technology companies and Nigerian institutions.
Some stakeholders, however, advised the National Assembly to ensure that the final legislation does not create unnecessary regulatory burdens capable of discouraging innovation or reducing investor confidence.
They called for sustained engagement with technology companies and other industry players before the bill is passed into law.
On the proposed National Artificial Intelligence Academy, stakeholders expressed overwhelming support, saying Nigeria must build indigenous capacity to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
They recommended that the academy should enjoy sustainable funding, transparent governance and strong partnerships with universities, research institutions, technology firms and international organisations to ensure global competitiveness.
Participants also emphasised the need for ethical standards in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence, stressing that issues relating to privacy, data protection, transparency, accountability and human rights should remain central to Nigeria’s AI framework.
Closing the hearing, Senator Salisu thanked participants for their robust contributions and assured them that all memoranda and recommendations received would be thoroughly reviewed as part of the committee’s report to the Senate.
He reiterated the committee’s determination to produce legislation that promotes innovation while ensuring accountability, digital inclusion and sustainable technological development.
If passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the two bills are expected to significantly strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance framework, deepen regulatory engagement with global technology companies and lay the foundation for the development of a globally competitive artificial intelligence ecosystem.
