AI Governance in Africa: Bridging Trust, Ethics, Equity and Regulation

  • Panel
  • —
  • Academic 2
  • Business 1
  • Policy 3
There is a growing rise in the use of AI technologies across various sectors, which raises various ethical and regulatory concerns for the lawmaker, the users and the developers. This panel will examine the intersection of AI, ethics, security, governance, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the African context. Experts will explore how AI systems can be designed to align with African values, foster trust, and address ethical and regulatory gaps. The session will also examine geopolitical dynamics influencing AI development, particularly the competing roles of global powers and the implications for Africa’s digital sovereignty. Additionally, panelists will consider the need to address underlying inequalities, such as access to technology and the internet, to ensure inclusive AI development that drives innovation and sustainable growth across the continent.

Questions to be answered

  1. What ethical principles which align with African cultural and societal values should guide the use of AI in Africa, particularly in sensitive sectors like health, finance, and governance?
  2. How can cross-border regulatory collaboration address the challenges of AI governance in Africa?
  3. How should African governments balance investments in AI to address fundamental inequalities, such as internet access and digital literacy?
  4. What steps can African governments take to transition from being consumers of foreign AI technologies to becoming innovators in the global AI ecosystem?

Moderator

Tami Koroye

University of Bradford - International

Dr. Tamarakemiebi (Tami) Koroye is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Bradford, where he teaches International Banking and Finance Law, Regulation of FinTech and Virtual Assets, Law and Ethics of Technology and AI, and Legal Technology. His PhD research examines how digital currencies can revolutionise pan-African trade payment systems, with a particular focus on monetary integration and financial regulation. His recent publications explore the intersection of blockchain technology, AI-driven financial regulation, and sustainable development, with an emphasis on how emerging technologies reshape financial and legal frameworks. His latest work examines the use of AI in central banking, analysing how AI-driven decision-making transforms the relationship between central banks and national financial institutions. Beyond academia, Dr. Koroye actively engages in policy discussions, contributing to AfCFTA Dialogues and the School of Pan-African Thought, where he bridges academic research with real-world regulatory challenges. He has published extensively on cryptocurrency regulation in Africa, trade dynamics, and the role of CBDCs in economic integration. His recent works include "Rethinking Free Trade Policies Under AfCFTA" and research on rent-seeking risks in permissioned blockchains. Dr. Koroye has presented his research internationally, including at conferences in India, Senegal, and Spain, contributing to global discussions on the regulation of AI, digital finance, and financial inclusion in emerging markets.

Speaker

Karine Caunes

Centre for AI and Digital Humanism (Digihumanism) - International

Dr. Karine Caunes is the Executive Director of Digihumanism - Centre for AI & Digital Humanism. She oversees global initiatives promoting rights-based, democratic approaches to AI governance and digital policy. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the European Law Journal where she shapes critical discourse on technology and the rule of law.

Speaker

Yomi Ajibade

Insulet - Nigeria

Yomi Ajibade is the Director, Technology and Privacy Counsel at Insulet. He is a senior privacy, technology, and AI governance professional with over a decade of legal and cross-industry experience in consulting, in-house, and multinational settings. He holds certifications as a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP), CIPP/E, and CIPM, and is known for implementing practical, business-aligned governance frameworks that enable innovation while ensuring regulatory alignment and operational efficiency.

Speaker

Melody Musoni

ECDPM - Netherlands

Dr. Melody Musoni is a Digital Governance and Digital Economy Policy Officer at ECDPM, a ‘think and do tank’ based in the Netherlands. Melody’s areas of interest are on Africa’s digital policy landscape, spanning projects on Artificial Intelligence in Africa, data governance, data protection and cybercrime and cybersecurity.

Speaker

Mercy King'ori

Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) - Kenya

Mercy is the Policy Manager for Africa at the Future of Privacy Forum where she follows and analyzes privacy and data protection developments of laws and policies, case law, decisions by national data protection bodies and implementation of data protection and privacy laws in African jurisdictions.