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Samson Itodo Appointed to the African Union Advisory Group on AI
The African Union (AU) has appointed Samson Itodo, Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, to serve a four-year term on the AU Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Peace, Security, and Governance in Africa.
This prestigious appointment recognizes his extensive experience and dedication to advancing democratic governance and technological innovation across the continent.
The Advisory Group was established following a resolution by the AU Peace and Security Council in June 2024 that mandates the AU Commission to establish an advisory group to study the impact of and harness the potential of AI in peace, security and governance.
Samson Itodo is a renowned community organizer with extensive expertise in African politics, elections, social movements and youth development.
Samson has been pivotal in advancing electoral integrity and democracy in Africa.
He has also been instrumental in encouraging the inclusion of young people in politics.
One of his most notable achievements is the successful #NotTooYoungToRun global campaign, which significantly lowered the minimum age for elective office in Nigeria.
Samson serves on the boards of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the Kofi Annan Foundation.
Samson holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in Law from the University of Jos and a Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
As a policy advocate, he provides strategic policy advice to parliamentary committees, electoral commissions, political parties, civil society organizations, and academic institutions.
His current research spans social movements, election law, democratic innovation and African politics.
The 9-member AU Advisory Group is tasked with supporting the AU Commission in conducting a comprehensive study on the impact and implications of AI on peace, security, stability, democracy, and development in Africa.
The Group will also propose strategies to mainstream AI in elections, peace, and governance processes, leverage AI for reconciliation and post-conflict reconstruction, and develop new approaches to address emerging challenges.
Additionally, the Group will guide data protection and transparency while proposing options for a continental AI governance framework.
The AU Advisory Group operates under the auspices of the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, whose office is pivotal in addressing the continent’s political stability and security challenges.
The establishment of the Advisory Group attests to the vision of the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security.
It is impressive that the AU under PAPs emphasizes proactive strategies to harness AI’s potential for promoting peace, security, and development across Africa.
Samson Itodo’s appointment not only brings honor to Nigeria and West Africa but also signifies the nation/region’s active participation in continental initiatives aimed at harnessing technology for sustainable development.
His involvement is expected to foster collaboration among African nations in leveraging AI for the betterment of society.
In response to his appointment, Samson Itodo expressed his gratitude, stating:”I am honoured to serve and contribute to shaping Africa’s future through responsible AI governance in advancing elections, democracy and governance.
This is a pivotal time to ensure technology enhances peace, security, and democratic processes across the continent.
“With a distinguished career dedicated to fostering innovation, ethical leadership, and the common good, Samson Itodo brings a wealth of knowledge to this advisory role.
His appointment marks a significant milestone for his professional journey and Africa’s ongoing efforts to harness the transformative power of AI for peace, security, and democracy.
By Our Reporter
The National Productivity Centre, NPC organized the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2025 Productivity Club Quiz Competition, which brought together students from selected secondary schools in Abuja.
The event, held at the Newton Park hotel, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja on Thursday, March 6, aimed to test participants’ knowledge on productivity and its concepts.
The competition featured students from eight secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT including: Government Secondary Schools Karu, Wuye, Apo Resettlement, Byazhin, Jabi, and Kurudu; as well as Government Day Secondary Schools Karu and Dutse Alhaji, all in the FCT.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Hon. Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi welcomed participants and observers, highlighting the aim of the programme.
Dr. Dan’Agundi said: “This unique programme is targeted at bringing young students together to showcase their knowledge of productivity they have acquired over the years, through the Productivity Coaching and Mentoring (PCM) Programme”.
Explaining further, he added that “Productivity Coaching and Mentoring Programme is an arm of the Productivity Awareness Campaign programme designed to take productivity messages to secondary schools to drive their productivity consciousness and introduce them to basic Productivity improvement tools and techniques, that would guide them on how to improve their productivity in their academic pursuit”.
The Executive Secretary, FCT Secondary Education Board, who was represented by Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman commended the Centre for impacting productivity knowledge to the students. He also encouraged the students to use the knowledge acquired to enhance their overall performance.
After a keenly contested finale, the quiz competition came to a thrilling conclusion with GDSS Dutse Alhaji emerging as the overall winner.
The second and third positions were secured by GSS Karu and GSS Byazhin, respectively.
The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Director-General, National Productivity Centre, and his team of Directors, as well as Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman, who represented the Executive Secretary of FCT Secondary Education Board.
Hajia Maimuna Musa Adaji, Director/HOD Corporate Affairs and Information, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday quizzed the immediate-past Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, for her alleged roles in the misappropriation, violation of procurement process and diversion of public funds of ₦138.4m in the course of disbursing the 2023 budgeted funds for the Ministry.
According to authoritative sources, the ex-minister arrived at the Commission’s headquarters around 11am on Thursday and faced interrogators on her alleged involvement in the fraud.
The sources claimed that investigations by the EFCC showed that funds donated for the funding of P- Bat Cares for Women Initiative were diverted for her self-enrichment.
She reportedly has not been admitted to administrative bail, as the sources added that investigations are still ongoing.
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was one of the ministers President Bola Tinubu relieved of their duties in October 2024.
She was appointed as the Minister of Women Affairs by Tinubu on August 21, 2023.
A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of an Independent Authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to establish a dispute tribunal and regulate the funding of political parties as well as utilisation of the funds.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and another lawmaker, Marcus Onobun, further seeks to ensure transparency and a stable democracy.
At the moment, there are 19 registered political parties in Nigeria. The roles to be performed by the new independent authority are currently the responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The independence and neutrality of INEC have been questioned by many including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, who decried the influence of political interference on the appointments of electoral commissioners.
“The electoral commission must be fully independent and we must have credible people. Political leaders who are so domineering and over-pressuring you (INEC staffers) to do what is wrong should resign and leave,” Jonathan said at a Yiaga event recently.
Similarly, Jega said, “There is political interference in the appointment or removal of electoral commissioners and other election officials.”
Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the 2023 Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), also lamented that nobody puts INEC in check.
Meanwhile, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu has been pushing for the creation of an electoral offence tribunal.
“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals. Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed.
“No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one General Election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.
“It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that has a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases,” he said.