Stakeholders Advocate Ethical AI, Resilient Data Centres For Sustainable Digital Economy

Experts in the digital and media ecosystem have called for ethical use of artificial intelligence, massive investment in digital infrastructure and deeper industry collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.

Speaking at a media capacity building for Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Economy organised in Lagos for journalists by Africa Hyperscalers and facilitated by The Media Training Room in Lagos, executive director of Africa Hyperscalers, Temitope Osunrinde, said digital infrastructure is now as critical to national development as roads, ports and power, stressing that credible media narratives are key to attracting long-term investment into Africa’s digital economy.

He noted that poor or inaccurate reporting could distort public discourse, complicate policy coordination and undermine investor confidence in a sector that requires patient capital and regulatory stability. He urged journalists to understand how digital systems work and what it takes to deliver them at scale.

Speaking on “Ethical and Professional News Reporting in the Age of AI”, founder/executive director of The Media Training Room (TMTR), Toni Kan, said the integration of artificial intelligence into newsrooms is no longer optional, as many media organisations are already experimenting with AI tools to improve efficiency.

He, however, warned that the challenge lies in ensuring that AI is deployed responsibly, stressing that journalism must continue to uphold accuracy, accountability and public trust.

“While AI may change how news is produced and consumed, the need for human oversight and critical thinking remains essential to uphold journalistic standards,” he said.

He added that AI would not replace journalists but would serve as an enabler if used thoughtfully. “The future of journalism will depend on how effectively the industry adapts to these changes while preserving its foundational principles,” Kan stated.

Commenting, head of Marketing and Communications, Rack Centre, Adebola Adefarati, kicked off the technical session titled Connectivity: From Subsea to the Street,” saying the future of connectivity is shared, explaining that infrastructure sharing across fibre, wireless and satellite platforms is key to reducing duplication and lowering rollout costs.

Adefarati explained that passive infrastructure sharing, such as ducts, poles, towers and metro rings, can materially cut costs and improve deployment efficiency, while active sharing of backhaul and core network components would unlock greater potential across the industry. He stressed that regulatory frameworks, policy incentives and collaboration are essential to drive widespread adoption in Nigeria.

On his part, chief executive Officer of Geniserve, Gbenga Adegbiji, said resilient data centres and connectivity infrastructure are the backbone of digital services, warning that payments, social media and e-commerce cannot function without strong foundations.

He noted that artificial intelligence workloads are placing increased pressure on infrastructure, requiring high-density racks, stable power and effective heat evacuation. “Power availability, cooling and redundancy are critical for resilience, while operational excellence ensures uptime beyond standard tier-three or tier-four classifications,” he said.

He urged the federal government to connect all states through a mesh network to eliminate single points of failure, while also calling for local capacity development. Adegbiji proposed mandatory internship quotas for private technology firms, even as he warned that that infrastructure without skilled manpower cannot be sustained, and emphasised the need for strong public-private collaboration.

Meanwhile, the chief executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Mohammed Rudman, tackled common myths surrounding the nation’s internet infrastructure. In a detailed explanation titled “What You Don’t Know about the Internet in Nigeria.” He revealed how local peering and efficient traffic routing are essential levers for improving speed, cutting costs, and strengthening the country’s digital independence. He noted that Nigeria had just one autonomous system number (ASN) per one million people, compared with 91 in the United States, 43 in Brazil and 13 in South Africa.

He lamented that the absence of ASNs in many states had left millions dependent on mobile networks, contributing to high broadband costs, limited competition and a fragile internet ecosystem, as 99.5 per cent of users still rely on mobile access.