By Felix Khanoba
The National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) has declared its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government in deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address Nigeria’s security challenges and drive national development.
President of the association, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, made the declaration in Abuja on Tuesday during a press conference to mark the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Awareness Day.
Ogunbodede said the association was prepared to work with government institutions to harness AI as a transformative tool for security, governance, and economic resilience.
“The association is prepared to collaborate with the Federal Government in harnessing Artificial Intelligence as a transformative tool in tackling security challenges,” he said.
He added that NAAIP, as the professional body for AI practitioners in Nigeria, was committed to supporting national security objectives through innovation and data-driven solutions.
“As a professional body representing AI practitioners in Nigeria, NAAIP is committed to supporting national security objectives through innovation, research, capacity building, data intelligence systems, predictive analytics, and other AI-driven solutions capable of enhancing surveillance, threat detection, intelligence analysis, and decision-support systems,” Ogunbodede said.
He noted that the 2026 AI Awareness Day was focused on moving from discussions to practical, large-scale deployment of AI solutions across critical sectors of the economy.
According to him, the theme for the 2026 edition, “Harnessing Ethical Artificial Intelligence for National Transformation, Inclusive Growth, and Economic Resilience,” reflects the association’s commitment to responsible and inclusive AI deployment.
Ogunbodede explained that AI could play a major role in strengthening national infrastructure, improving public service delivery, and enhancing transparency in governance.
He said AI-driven systems could also be deployed for predictive maintenance in the power sector, intelligent traffic management, smart energy systems, and data-informed economic planning.
The NAAIP president described the association as Nigeria’s premier professional body for AI practitioners, established in April 2024 following a national training programme that equipped nearly 1,000 participants across the higher education sector with AI competencies.
He said the body’s strategic focus areas include capacity building, ethical governance, research and innovation, policy advisory, and public awareness.
Ogunbodede also called on government, the private sector, academic institutions, development partners, and young Nigerians to collaborate in building an inclusive and ethical AI ecosystem.
He urged government at all levels to integrate AI into governance and public service delivery, particularly in national security, planning, and infrastructure management.
“The promise of AI can only be realised through shared responsibility, coordinated action, and visionary leadership across all sectors of society,” he said.
He added that the association stood ready to work with all stakeholders to translate national AI policies into practical outcomes that would accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a resilient, AI-enabled economy, even as he called on private sector operators to invest in the sector.
“We call on industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to recognise Al as a strategic driver of productivity, competitiveness, and economic expansion, We encourage the private sector to invest in Al research, development, and deployment across key industries such as finance, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.
“Support startups and innovation hubs that are building indigenous Al solutions; Adopt Al to improve operational efficiency, customer experience, and decision- making……”
While expressing delight that the association is honoured to have the guidance of an esteemed Board of Trustees whose membership includes Aare Afe Babalola, SAN -Charman, Emeritus Professor Peter Akinsola Okebukola, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, among others, Ogunbodede commended his team, which include six Vice-Presidents representing the zones, as well as dedicated national officers and committees for driving the strategic agenda.
“The officers are: (i) Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede (ii) Professor Shehu Adamu Iya (iii) Professor Nasiru Maiturare (iv) Professor Emmanuel Samu Dandaura (v) Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde (vi) Professor Joy Eyisi (vii) Professor Jonathan Tsetimi (viii) Dr. Kehinde Abiola (ix) Professor Aleruchi Chuku (x) Professor Khadijat Adenola Yahaya (xi) Professor Nkechinyere Nwokoye .
The 2026 AI Awareness Day, Ogunbodede said, was not just an event but a national call to action aimed at promoting innovation, inclusive growth, and economic resilience powered by ethical artificial intelligence.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, who is also a member of NAAIP, expressed the readiness of the university to support the association in delivering its mandate in line with global trend.
Represented by former deputy Vice Chancellor of NOUN and Deputy Facilitator General of Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), Prof. Monioluwa Olaniyi, the VC said : “We are delighted to host you, we are delighted to have you here as your operational base. The National Open University of Nigeria, we all know, is a giant, and we are delighted that practitioners of artificial intelligence deemed it fit to make their base our campus.
“Also, the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners has made it a determination to always have this awareness day, annually, so that the general public will be enlightened and then we can move with global trends in terms of artificial intelligence practices and also development. No doubt, this is a very important move, and the National Open University of Nigeria is delighted to also partner with NAAIP.”
