Artificial intelligence is becoming part of the operational landscape of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, but questions remain about how organisations govern the technology.
A report published by BusinessDay on 15 October, citing a Nigerian Communications Commission survey, said 73 per cent of surveyed licensees were using or piloting AI in live operations, while 27 per cent reportedly had no AI governance arrangements.
AI can help telecommunications businesses analyse large volumes of information, automate routine processes, identify unusual activity and improve customer support. Yet these benefits come with responsibilities, particularly when automated systems influence customer service, fraud detection, business decisions or the handling of personal information.
A company that deploys AI without clear oversight may struggle to identify who is accountable when a system makes a mistake. Poorly governed tools can also create risks involving privacy, unfair outcomes, security and inaccurate automated decisions.
Businesses do not need to abandon AI to manage these risks. They need a practical governance framework that identifies approved uses, assigns responsibility, evaluates performance, protects data and establishes a process for correcting errors. Human review should remain available for consequential decisions.
For smaller Nigerian businesses, this is an important lesson. AI adoption should be guided by a defined business problem, measurable benefits and a realistic understanding of the risks.
Digital transformation is not complete when an organisation adopts AI. It is complete when the technology is useful, accountable and responsibly managed.
