Religious leaders have called for an inclusive and value-driven framework to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and deployment in Nigeria.
They made the call during a media training organised by the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (NRC-AI) for journalists on Monday, February 16, 2026, in Lagos.
Rt. Rev. Dr Evans Onyemara, the General Secretary, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), said the council had partnered with the Future of Life Institute to build AI awareness among religious leaders.
Onyemara said CCN was working with Jama’atu Nasril Islam to ensure interfaith collaboration on AI governance.
He urged government to include faith-based organisations and civil society groups in AI policy formulation and implementation.
The Director of CCN, Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, said the coalition supports AI policies rooted in justice, compassion, accountability and human dignity.
Fadahunsi warned against unregulated AI systems that could erode indigenous values and weaken analytical thinking among youths.
He noted that while AI could improve healthcare, education, agriculture and security, safeguards were necessary to prevent misuse.
A civil society partner, Mr. Philip Jakpor, described the media as indispensable in promoting ethical AI adoption.
Jakpor said AI deployment in Nigeria must respect religious beliefs, cultural norms and national identity.
According to him, while the US and China are currently investing billions in AI creation, adoption and deployment, Africa is still missing in the race largely due to limited infrastructure, low local data representation, and high implementation costs.
“African media is also constrained by entrenched skepticism regarding data biases and potential job losses,” he stated, lamenting that the Nigerian media, which is supposed to be a watchdog by amplifying the need for active engagement to ensure ethical development and application, is largely in the dark with many journalists ignorantly regurgitating ideals that are extraneous to religion as well as Africa’s cultural norms and values.
Jakpor, who is also a journalist, urged the media to serve as a platform for debate and exchange of ideas, in fostering a more informed and engaged public on AI.
His words: “The media must equally showcase positive examples of AI and highlight the ethical drawbacks identified above to encourage the government to take meaningful steps toward addressing them. The media must also report scientific findings on AI and encourage action that will not make Nigerians mere consumers of AI ideas birthed in the west, but also co-creators of AI tools and information.”
Veteran journalist, Tope Oluwaleye, in a presentation, explores issues related to how AI influences religious practices, virtual services (AI-powered platforms host online worship, prayers or sermons), personalised guidance, scripture analysis (AI tools helping to interpret or translate religious texts), and community engagement (AI-driven apps connecting believers and facilitate discussions).
He listed accuracy, accountability and inclusiveness as key principles to help journalists to produce stories that are both informative and respectful of the diverse ways people experience faith.
Programmes Officer, CCN, Ms. Nkechi Oseni, who read the position of the coalition, stressed the need for moral leadership in shaping Nigeria’s AI governance.
Oseni said the coalition supports Pillar Four of Nigeria’s 2024 AI Strategy, which focuses on ethical inclusion and public trust.
She called for an independent AI Ethics Expert Group to provide objective oversight on AI development and deployment.
According to her, clear ethical principles must address fairness, transparency, accountability, privacy and human well-being.
She also advocated standardised assessment mechanisms to ensure AI projects align with Nigeria’s cultural and religious values.
The coalition emphasised that responsible AI development must align with Nigeria’s constitutional values and protect future generations.