ICSAN Pushes For Policy-Driven AI Adoption To Reform Governance

The president and chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mrs Uto Ukpanah, has emphasised the critical need for Nigeria to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) not merely as a technological tool, but as a transformational force in governance and public administration.

This assertion was made at ICSAN’s 49th Annual Conference held in Lagos, where AI’s role in modern governance was a focal point of discussion.

In her opening remarks, Ukpanah described the conference theme, ‘Re-imagining Governance: Navigating the Artificial Intelligence Revolution for Excellence,’ as timely and necessary.

She remarked, “Artificial Intelligence is not a futuristic fantasy but a present reality. We are already experiencing its impact in everyday applications from virtual assistants to predictive systems, and we must now consider its deeper implications for governance and national development.”

Ukpanah highlighted ICSAN’s legacy, stating that the Institute, as a statutorily recognised body and Nigeria’s only authorised institute for Chartered Secretaries and governance professionals, has championed responsible corporate governance for nearly sixty years.

She described the conference as a strategic platform for dialogue, policy reflection, and professional insight, especially on emerging issues like AI that are reshaping governance globally. She added that, “AI has already been deployed in smart city management, healthcare diagnostics, and public safety in South Korea. AI is helping to reduce crime rates in urban parks.”

The president of the institute urged Nigeria not to lag, stressing that, the nation needs to harness AI to modernise public service delivery, improve electoral systems, ensure financial accountability, and strengthen data integrity in government institutions.

Addressing the regulatory framework, Ukpanah referenced the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), and its General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID), as essential tools.

She stated that, “The GAID provides vital regulatory clarity on the ethical deployment of emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT. This offers us a legal and institutional pathway to ensure that AI applications remain grounded in data protection and respect for individual rights.”

Despite the benefits of AI, Ukpanah warned of its potential pitfalls. She cautioned that, “We must ensure that technology serves humanity not the other way around.”

While citing risks such as data privacy violations, algorithmic bias, and human displacement, she explained why ICSAN is bringing together professionals, policymakers and thought leaders to shape how AI can be applied responsibly in our unique national context.

The keynote speaker, group executive director at Chams Holding Company, Dr Femi Oyenuga, who also spoke on AI’s transformative role, described it as a governance inflexion point rather than just another technological advancement. He called on governance professionals to take up a dual responsibility enabling beneficial AI adoption while embedding safeguards that ensure accountability, transparency and inclusion.

Dr Oyenuga presented a three-pillar framework: Stewardship, Accountability, and Capability, as a guide for institutions navigating AI adoption.  He acknowledged some national progress but pointed out significant gaps, stating that, ‘while the private sector is showing strong interest in AI, our institutional capacity for algorithmic oversight remains limited.’

Similarly, he advocated bold reforms, including AI Impact Assessments, board-level governance policies and the creation of an ICSAN Centre for Digital Governance.