In a world where technology is redefining education, one Nigerian school is making waves. Glisten International Academy, based in Abuja, has established itself as a model for integrating STEM and robotics into everyday learning. Earlier this year, the school proudly represented Nigeria at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas — the world’s largest robotics competition, featuring over 24,000 students from more than 60 countries.
For Abba Saidu, the Executive Director of Glisten International Academy, this journey has been about much more than building robots. “We’ve been running the school for 17 years, and technology has always been at the heart of what we do,” Saidu told Ndiho Media. “From the start, we wanted our students to have the skills and mindset for the future — to think, create, and solve problems.”
Saidu, who describes himself as a mentor and basketball enthusiast, says his motivation stems from a deep desire to see young Nigerians thrive in the technology sector. “When I see a four or five-year-old light up while building something, it melts my heart,” he said. “We’re not just teaching; we’re nurturing problem solvers.”
At the Dallas competition, Glisten’s students competed in multiple categories, representing Nigeria with three teams — from elementary to high school. “It was a life-changing experience,” Saidu recalled. “Imagine the Olympics, but for robots — countries from around the world, cheering, collaborating, and learning from one another. It showed our students that innovation has no borders.”
Saidu believes that robotics education is the key to unlocking Africa’s technological future. “We focus on robotics because we’ve seen its power,” he explained. “It teaches teamwork, coding, and creativity. These students are building robots today, but they’re really building confidence for tomorrow.”
Looking ahead, Saidu says the academy is investing heavily in makerspaces — hands-on innovation labs that let students design, test, and build. “We’ve changed the way students think,” he said. “From coding to AI to drones, they’re exploring technologies that will shape Nigeria’s future.”
For Glisten International Academy, it’s not just about winning medals — it’s about inspiring a generation. As Saidu put it, “Even if we take baby steps, every small effort helps close the gap between Africa and the rest of the world.”
The rise of artificial intelligence is sparking debates worldwide, and Africa is no exception. Governments, businesses, and citizens are asking whether AI should be regulated—and if so, how it should be regulated. For Gbenga Sesan, executive director of Paradigm Initiative in Lagos, the answer is clear: regulation is necessary, but it must not come from fear or ignorance. “Regulation has always been a tool to create standards so that society can benefit from any new thing,” Sesan told Ndiho Media. “But you can never regulate something before it starts. If you regulate something before it starts, then you kill it.” Across the continent, many governments have taken a reactionary approach to new technologies. Nigeria’s ban on cryptocurrency is one example. Citizens quickly found ways around it, and the government eventually introduced its own digital currency. Sesan argues that this approach shows a lack of understanding. “The people who are deploying emerging technologies are still learning. Regulators cannot just come in and ban something they don’t understand.” Instead, he suggests a four-step process: first, ask what the technology is; second, ask how it benefits people and the economy; third, create standards that build trust instead of seeking control; and finally, provide ways for citizens to seek redress if harm occurs. “If something goes wrong, how do people seek redress? That’s how you build trust,” he said.
Governments often legislate out of fear, using regulations to silence opposition or control citizens. Sesan warns that this approach is dangerous. “Whatever standards you create now to punish others, when you lose elections, those tools will be turned against you. That’s the law of reciprocity.” He believes the solution is openness—public hearings, consultation with experts, and engaging stakeholders, including young people who are already driving innovation. Africa’s youth are using technology to build startups, create jobs, and attract investment. “Young people are solving the unemployment problem of Africa by using new technology,” Sesan explained. “It’s high time governments listen to them and use regulation to support innovation instead of killing it.” While fears about AI taking jobs are real, Sesan says history shows the benefits outweigh the losses. Typists lost their jobs when computers arrived, but new opportunities emerged for those who adapted to the latest technology. The same principle applies to AI. “It is true AI will end some jobs, but it will create new ones. The net gain is what matters. Governments must work with citizens to reskill and prepare for this future.” From precision agriculture to telemedicine and digital classrooms, AI presents Africa with an opportunity to leapfrog into a new era. Sesan believes the continent must embrace this moment with wisdom. “This is a brilliant and bright future. We must learn, embrace, and adapt to change. Regulation should support innovation, not stifle it.”
Artificial Intelligence and Big Data are no longer buzzwords reserved for Silicon Valley. They’re reshaping industries everywhere—from healthcare and finance to education and agriculture. For the continent of Africa, they represent more than just new technology; they are an opportunity to leapfrog development hurdles and carve out a competitive niche in the global economy. Few people understand this potential better than Dr. Momar Dieng, Dean of the School of Business at the African Leadership University in Kigali, Rwanda. A mathematician by training, with a PhD from the University of California at Davis, Dieng also spends summers lecturing at Harvard University on African politics, election statistics, and quantitative methods. His passion lies in helping Africa harness data and technology to address its most pressing challenges.
Speaking to Ndiho Media, Dieng explained how generative AI is already changing the world. “The emergence of generative AI tools like Bard, from Google, and ChatGPT from OpenAI, backed by companies like Microsoft, has changed the way we think about AI in many ways,” he said. “These tools, especially for young people, are essential to master, as they are going to revolutionize the world and the way we work.”
However, while these tools offer enormous promise, Dieng cautioned that Africa has considerable ground to make up, as most AI systems rely on vast amounts of data. Most of what’s available online originates from Western sources. That leaves African languages, cultures, and knowledge poorly represented. “One of the things where Africa will have to really invest more energy is to make sure that we have more content online,” he noted. “Most African languages are not well represented, which creates a natural bias. We need to document and catalog our indigenous knowledge so it can contribute to the global corpus of knowledge that’s going to find its way into these generative models.”
The challenge, in his view, is not only technical but cultural. Many African societies rely heavily on oral traditions, meaning that vital knowledge in areas such as medicine, agriculture, and history often goes unrecorded. For AI to work for Africa, that must change. Digitizing local languages, encouraging research and publishing, and investing in content creation across disciplines are all crucial steps.
At the same time, the rise of AI is expected to shake up the job market. Some professions may vanish, while others will be completely redefined. Dieng says we should not be worried but prepared. “AI will free people from repetitive tasks so they can focus on higher-level, creative work. The key is retraining and upskilling our workforce.” He pointed out that tasks like summarizing information or drafting basic reports—once standard training exercises in schools—are quickly being taken over by machines. The question for African educators is straightforward: what should young people be taught instead?
For Dieng, the answer lies in creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. “We are going into a world where being average is not going to cut it anymore,” he said. “AI models will be able to do everything average before. That’s why innovation and excellence must become the standard.” At the African Leadership University, he and his colleagues are developing programs to prepare students for careers in data science, programming, and AI—fields that will remain essential even as technology continues to evolve.
Policy and regulation, Dieng added, are just as important as education. He pointed to elections as one area where AI could be both transformative and dangerous. Chatbots, for example, can help political parties stay connected to voters at a fraction of the cost of traditional campaigning. But the same tools can also spread misinformation and create realistic deepfakes that threaten democracy. “AI tools are going to revolutionize how politics is done—not just in Africa, but everywhere,” he said. “But we must also guard against risks like disinformation and deepfakes, which could inflame conflicts in fragile societies. Regulation is not optional—it’s essential.”
That regulation, he argued, cannot be left to individual countries alone. Most African states are too small to influence global technology companies independently. “Individual countries are still small markets with limited bargaining power,” he said. “To influence global platforms and technology providers, Africa must speak with one voice through regional or continental frameworks.”
Despite the challenges, Dieng is profoundly optimistic. Africa has the world’s youngest population, a growing talent pool, and an opportunity to leapfrog into the future. “With this fourth industrial revolution, we have a chance to reset the clock,” he said. “Young Africans no longer need to leave the continent to access world-class knowledge. With focus, ambition, and investment in education, we can leapfrog and compete globally. The next 20 to 30 years will be critical—and I strongly believe this century can be Africa’s century.”
Halfway through 2025, it is another critical election year in Africa. At least ten countries, such as Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Malawi, and Tanzania, are scheduled to conduct presidential or general elections. Gabon held its elections in April. While the calendar is lighter than in 2024, when nineteen countries went to the polls, this year will test how new technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), are reshaping African democracy.
Across the continent, AI is quietly making its way into election management and political campaigns. It is being used to register voters, verify identities, analyze data, and detect cyber threats. At the same time, political actors are experimenting with AI to push targeted messages, generate disinformation, and even create deepfakes. The result is a double-edged sword: AI could help elections become more efficient and credible—or undermine trust in already fragile systems.
How AI Is Being Used
There is no single record of how many African countries employ AI in elections, since most adoption happens quietly and varies in scope. But recent studies and reports, including work by Yiaga Africa and International IDEA, point to several notable cases:
Nigeria used Automated Fingerprint Identification in 2023 to prevent duplicate registrations and now applies AI to counter cyber threats and misinformation.
Ghana introduced facial recognition technology for voter verification in its 2024 elections.
Kenya utilized natural language processing under the Umati project in 2022 to monitor online hate speech, while its electoral commission launched WhatsApp chatbots for voter education.
South Africa relied on AI for voter verification in the 2024 elections, but campaigns also used it to spread disinformation and deepfakes.
Eswatini and Madagascar reported using AI tools for voter authentication and automated chatbots.
Senegal sparked controversy after deploying AI in its “parrainage” system to screen presidential aspirants’ endorsements.
Yiaga Africa’s 2024 survey of 22 electoral commissions shows that only a handful are actively experimenting with AI. Most remain cautious, citing high costs, weak regulation, and fears of bias or misuse.
Promise and Risk
AI’s role in elections generally falls into two areas. On one hand, it helps electoral management bodies with voter registration, biometric verification, and detecting fraud or irregularities. On the other hand, political campaigns utilize it to target voters with customized messages—sometimes crossing the line into misinformation or manipulation.
International IDEA notes that AI can make elections more inclusive and transparent, but warns it is not a cure-all. Through its AI for Electoral Actors program, IDEA is collaborating with election officials, civil society organizations, and the media in cities such as Dakar and Johannesburg to enhance literacy and capacity in the use of AI in politics.
Expert Perspectives
For Zeph Shamba, Chairman of the International Political Campaigns Expo, Africa cannot afford to ignore AI.
“Africa doesn’t want to be left out … it’s a wave that’s coming. We can’t avoid it. Gone are the days when a leader was limited in reaching out to voters—AI speeds up processes. But it also poses risks. That’s why we need open, informed debate.”
Cape Town-based campaign strategist Glen Mpani agrees that AI is transforming politics, but highlights the dangers of its misuse.
“Technology is now at the center of all political campaigns. With mobile penetration, citizens can be reached directly on their phones. That changes everything. But if these tools fall into the wrong hands, they spread disinformation. Every tool is both an opportunity and a threat.” Mpani argues that regulation must reflect African realities.”We can’t just copy rules from the West.
Challenges Ahead
The integration of advanced technologies presents a range of challenges, despite its significant advantages. Throughout Africa, the implementation of these technologies remains quite limited. Several electoral bodies lack sufficient funding to support these systems. Furthermore, there are growing concerns among citizens regarding issues such as privacy breaches, surveillance, and biases in algorithms..Few countries have established regulatory frameworks for AI in elections, and the opacity of some tools raises additional concerns.
Civil society networks, such as Yiaga Africa, AfEONet, and ELOG, are pushing for broader conversations. Supported by the Luminate Group, they convened election officials and observers from 22 countries to weigh opportunities and risks. The consensus is that AI can improve elections, but without transparency and accountability, it may actually deepen mistrust.
Analysts say AI is not a silver bullet. It may help close gaps in voter verification or fraud detection, but it will not solve the structural and political challenges facing African elections. What matters most is how the technology is introduced—fairly, inclusively, and transparently.
For more than ten years, I have traveled across Africa showcasing stories on innovation and entrepreneurship. Since 2013, I have interviewed over 300 startup founders and CEOs—from emerging founders of small innovation hubs to CEOs of Africa’s maiden unicorn, Jumia. I have, in the process, noticed how life at the grassroots has been revolutionized by digital technologies: digital payments in FinTech, digital platforms in EduTech, HealthTech interventions, and now rising generative AI.
It has provided me with a front-row seat to Africa’s tech revolution. Every interview has been distinct, and every CEO has had something to impart about resilience, creativity, or problem-solving that I had not known prior. Different Perspectives is a companion project in which I publish some of those memorable interviews. These interviews speak to me and, I hope, to audiences seeking insight into the future of tech.
One of those interviews was with Dr. Atif Farid Mohammad, Global Head of GenAI and Chief Data Officer at Global Technology Solutions Inc. Dr. Mohammad is among today’s leading spokespeople for artificial intelligence, and he described the subject in a manner both uncomplicated and powerful.
“When you talk about artificial intelligence, you are technically about machines that are making an effort to speak back with us,” he explained to me. “You and I are holding a two-way discussion. A machine, however, learns from information and provides us with a response in a language we could understand.”
He made a distinct line between AI and generative AI:
“If data are the passengers in a train, then generative AI is the engine. Big language models, like ChatGPT, take in data, create something new, and output it in a human-consumable format.”
Where others are concerned about the dangers of AI, Dr. Mohammad feels much of that is misplaced worry.
“The real worry is fear of missing out,” he added. “Ethical standards and regulations are called for, but the tech in itself holds tremendous potential, ranging from accelerated vaccine development to novel prospects in healthcare.”
Ndiho Media,LLC. 