Yahaya canvasses policy enforcement
By Abubakar Imam
A former Head of the Department of Accounting, University of Ilorin, Prof. Khadijat Adenola Yahaya, has emphasised that effective governance must move from “policy intention” to “policy enforcement”.
Prof. Yahaya, who is currently on sabbatical leave at the Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED), Ilorin, made this call last Thursday (January 29, 2026) while delivering a paper titled “From Policy to Policing: Bridging the Regulatory Gap” at the Bi-Monthly Symposium themed “Guardian of the Machine: Strengthening Ethics, Governance and Security in Nigeria’s Ecosystem” organised by the National Association of AI Practitioners(NAAIP).
The renowned academic called for the establishment of dedicated oversight units and the use of regular risk-based audits for AI startups.
She noted that the draft AI Code of Practice (2025) is a step in the right direction but stressed that human oversight of automated decisions must remain a non-negotiable standard.
While noting that the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 serves as a “legislative backbone,” Prof. Yahaya stressed the role of governance in AI accountability.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the event, Professor Emeritus Peter Akinsola Okebukola, appreciated the Executive Committee of NAAIP for the timely discourse and advised them not to rest on their oars in promoting responsible use of AI for national development.
The event, which also witnessed presentations by other scholars, was concluded with an interactive session where participants lauded the organisers for tackling the “implementation gaps” of the National AI Strategy.
