By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
To say that (Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly used as tools for manipulation, is to put it mildly. That it is causing significant confusion everywhere, is to say the least. That they can intentionally deceive humans to achieve goals, is to state the obvious.
Recently, religious leaders
under the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (NRCAI), organized a symposium in Abuja, to jaw-jaw on ways to end the chaotic challenges of AI.
Specifically, they called for a stronger ethical frameworks and regulatory policies to guide the deployment of AI in the country.
General Secretary of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Dr. Evans Onyemara, warned that the rapidly evolving technology must serve humanity rather than undermine human dignity and social stability.
He said the church recognises the growing influence of AI but insisted that its application must prioritise the common good.
He added that Christian teachings emphasise the unique position of human beings in creation, noting that technology should remain a tool under human control rather than a force that dictates human existence.
“Human beings are created in the image of God and have been given responsibility to maintain order in the universe. Artificial intelligence should therefore be deployed in ways that enhance human existence and not put humanity in harm’s way.”
Onyemara stressed the need for Nigeria to develop clear regulatory frameworks that will govern how AI technologies are adopted and used across sectors.
He noted that while AI presents opportunities for development, Nigeria must not simply import every emerging technology without scrutiny.
“Nigerians can demand laws that regulate the use of artificial intelligence. We can also co-create the kind of AI that meets our needs as a nation rather than allowing every foreign technology to dominate our space,” he added.
Also speaking, Administrative Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Yusuf Ahmad Bida, harped on ethical principles guiding the use of AI from an Islamic perspective.
Bida said AI applications should promote God-consciousness, sincerity and justice while avoiding harm to individuals and society.
He emphasised that users must remain mindful of accountability, noting that actions involving technology carry moral implications.
“AI should be used in ways that promote justice and avoid actions that create mistrust or harm within the community. Ultimately, every human action is accountable before God,” he said.
Also speaking during a training session at the symposium, Godwin Faruna emphasised the importance of developing AI policies that reflect Nigeria’s unique cultural and societal realities.
Faruna noted that in order to ensure stability in the country’s AI governance framework, technological models should not be imposed on Nigeria without adequate safeguards.
“For us to create stability in our policy on AI, no AI model should be imposed on us without guardrails that follow our culture, values and language,” he said.
Bida also urged the federal government to establish strict regulatory mechanisms for AI technologies, warning that unregulated deployment could become disruptive.
According to him, government agencies responsible for education, science and technology must develop clear policy guidelines to define acceptable AI applications in Nigeria.
He also advised Nigerian youths to adopt responsible digital behaviour, urging them to use AI and social media platforms constructively rather than engaging in activities that could harm society.
“This is because the most powerful AI systems are being made without regard for the deeper religious questions at play. AI companies aim to change what it means to be human. Whereas, AI’s impacts on jobs and human relationships will be profoundly disruptive, without religious leaders guiding communities through these changes, we risk widespread, unprecedented chaos. Thus, religious leaders should explore and/or study, as well as deepen their understanding of their faith’s doctrines and theology relating to AI, so as to ensure technology does not supplant the role of God in society.
“It is therefore very vital that religious communities are not left behind in these discussions. Our voice must be clear and heard.AI should serve through human religious codes and dignity, not reduce it. It must uphold religious guidance and justice, not compromise it. It must support life, not endanger it. We cannot allow a world where machines decide matters of morality, faith, or life and death.
“It should be noted that the uncertainties associated with AI could be address through the textual and non-textual Islamic sources, while placing a strong emphasis on the notion of “maṣlaḥa”(balancing for good) as a normative guide for AI’s ethical evaluation, on the other hand, Maqasidu Shari’a is central in making the desired deductions. “Maṣlaḥa is as an ethical state of affairs in harmony with divine will in line with Islamic jurisprudence that allows for arguments supporting ethical choices that prioritize building the technical infrastructure for AIto maximize utility.
“No doubt, AI technologies are already global with a rapidly increasing presence in different aspects of our life. The technologies come with transformative power and enormousbeneficial applications in many sectors including security, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, education, commerce, and finance. Advances in machine learning and hardware design have made AI systems increasingly capable of autonomous behavior through sensing, planning and action, logical reasoning, decision support, predictive analytics, and operating land, air, and sea vehicles. “This un-checked autonomous behavior is not always beneficial and can seriously harm human and the society through biases, discrimination, loss of privacy, difficulty identifying liabilities, unemployment, and concentration of power and wealth in a few stakeholders and Maqasidu Shari’a (purposes, principles, goals or objectives of the Islamic law) are essentially to promote, protect and establish well-being for mankind and society.”
On his part, Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, Director, Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan, said religious institutions, policymakers and technology experts must collaborate to provide lasting solutions to the challenges of AI.
He called on the media to champion the discussions against threats posed by AI.
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