At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, SiBAN corporate member AlphaGeek Technologies, represented by its Managing Director Oluwaseun Dania, joined the UN Secretary-General, heads of state, and other world leaders for the official launch of the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance a landmark multilateral effort to shape the future of AI policy and oversight.
The Global Dialogue on AI Governance seeks to establish inclusive, transparent, and responsible approaches to the opportunities and risks presented by rapidly advancing AI technologies. For SiBAN, whose mandate is to foster responsible blockchain and emerging technology adoption in Nigeria, this global conversation aligns with ongoing efforts to build trust, transparency, and innovation in Africa’s digital economy.
A Voice from Africa on the Global Stage
Delivering a high-level statement at the Multi-stakeholder Meeting, Mr. Dania emphasized that AI governance must be both global and inclusive, ensuring that no continent or community is left behind.
“AI holds transformative promise: from leapfrogging infrastructure gaps in Africa to powering climate-resilient agriculture and secure digital economies,” he noted.
“Yet, I have witnessed the shadows it casts deepfakes eroding trust, biased algorithms perpetuating inequality, and unchecked data monopolies widening the North-South divide. Governance must be global, but rooted in inclusivity. We cannot draft rules in echo chambers of Silicon Valley or Geneva boardrooms. Africa’s voice, representing 1.4 billion people, demands amplification.”
Drawing on his experience as an information security expert, Dania highlighted Nigeria’s proactive steps, including the National AI Strategy (April 2025) spearheaded by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. The strategy projects a 27% annual AI market expansion through 2030 and an estimated $15 billion GDP contribution, while equipping 70% of Nigeria’s young workforce with AI skills by the end of the decade.
Key Priorities for Global AI Governance
In his address, Dania proposed three priorities for the Global Dialogue:
- Equitable Access: Mandating open-source AI frameworks and capacity-building funds to empower innovators across the Global South, ensuring Africa’s participation goes beyond data extraction.
- Ethical Safeguards: Establishing African-led standards for bias audits, privacy-by-design, and data sovereignty, reflecting communal values such as ubuntu and Nigeria’s own governance protocols.
- Resilient Infrastructure: Investing in AI for development, from pandemic prediction to energy optimisation, while strengthening defences against weaponised misuse.
These principles, he argued, are essential to measuring AI success “not by GDP spikes, but by lives uplifted.
Why This Matters for Blockchain and Emerging Tech
AI and blockchain share common challenges in trust, transparency, and cross-border governance. SiBAN views AlphaGeek’s participation in the UNGA dialogue as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, demonstrating how Nigerian innovators are shaping global governance conversations beyond their immediate industry verticals.
SiBAN remains committed to engaging global stakeholders, advocating for inclusive standards, and contributing to frameworks that balance innovation with accountability across emerging technologies.
Stay Looped In
As AI and blockchain converge to redefine digital economies, SiBAN invites industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to participate in ongoing dialogues shaping the future of responsible technology governance.
Get Involved. Contact membership@siban.org or join our Telegram Community to collaborate on policies and pilots that support a secure, transparent, and inclusive digital future.
