Governance and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Nigeria

A new study titled 'Governance and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Nigeria,' published on arXiv, provides a ground-level view of the regulatory challenges facing AI adoption in emerging economies. Conducted by researchers Uloma Okoro, Tammy Mckenzie, and Branislav Radeljic, the research employed a qualitative case study design, gathering data through 27 semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion with seven additional legal practitioners from sectors like finance and corporate law. Thematic analysis revealed a consensus among Nigeria's legal professionals: there is profound concern over data privacy risks and a glaring absence of enforceable legal frameworks tailored to the local context.

The findings indicate limited confidence in existing institutional capacity to govern AI effectively. A key insight is the strong emphasis from participants on developing locally adapted governance models. They argue against the direct adoption of foreign regulatory frameworks from the EU or US, which may not address Nigeria's specific socio-economic and infrastructural realities. While optimism exists about AI's potential benefits, the study concludes that such progress is conditional on establishing strong legal oversight and public accountability mechanisms. This research contributes practical guidance for policymakers aiming to bridge the gap between global ethical principles and actionable, context-specific regulation in developing nations.