Alpha-Geek Technologies MD, Oluwaseun Dania, Stresses Equity and Co-Creation at UN Global Dialogue
At the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting launching the Global Dialogue on AI Governance last week, Oluwaseun Dania, Managing Director of Alpha-Geek Technologies, delivered a compelling message: Africa’s voice, representing 1.4 billion people and the world’s youngest workforce, must be amplified and included in the creation of global AI governance frameworks.
Speaking as a bridge-builder between innovation and equity, Mr. Dania insisted that the true success of the AI revolution should be measured by lives uplifted, not merely by economic spikes. He positioned Africa not just as an early adopter of mobile-first AI, but as a continent poised to be a co-creator of its future.
“In a world where AI is reshaping destinies, this dialogue must ensure no continent or community is left behind,” Dania told the multi-stakeholder meeting. He acknowledged AI’s transformative promise citing its potential to leapfrog infrastructure gaps and power secure digital economies, including the burgeoning fintech and stablecoin revolutions but also delivered a stern warning.
Drawing on his expertise in information security, Dania highlighted AI’s inherent “shadows”: deepfakes eroding trust, biased algorithms perpetuating inequality, and unchecked data monopolies widening the North-South divide.
To counter these risks and harness the potential, Mr. Dania pointed to the proactive steps already being taken by Nigeria. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, launched the National AI Strategy in April 2025. This blueprint, in collaboration with the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), projects a 27% annual market expansion through 2030 and $15 billion in GDP contributions, while aiming to equip 70% of the youth workforce with AI capabilities by 2030.
To ensure global governance meets this spirit of equity, Mr. Dania emphasized that rules cannot be drafted in isolation. He put forward three key priorities:
- Equitable Access: Mandating open-source AI frameworks and capacity-building funds to equip Global South innovators, preventing the mere extraction of data for profit.
- Ethical Safeguards: Embedding African-led ethical standards for bias audits and privacy-by-design, drawing from the communal value of ubuntu (humanity towards others).
- Resilient Infrastructure: Investing in AI for development (such as predictive analytics for health and energy optimization) while simultaneously fortifying systems against weaponized misuse.
He concluded by urging stakeholders to treat the dialogue as a covenant for a just AI future. “Africa is ready to co-create, not merely comply,” he declared.
