Academics, Researchers & International Organisations

“Without humans, tech is nothing; without tech, our lives can’t be transformed to meet modern challenges. A harmonious interaction between tech and humanity will create a better world for all.” – Majiuzu Daniel Moses, Founder at Africa Tech For Development Initiative

This interview has been published by Namrata Singh and The SuperLawyer Team

Could you share how you first became interested in technology, artificial intelligence, and social good? What inspired you to start your career, and how has your journey evolved over time? 

My interest in technology, Artificial Intelligence and Social good sprung out of my curiosity to make the world a better place. Growing up I had always imagined how the First World War and the second world wars were fought including the humanitarian casualties. The use of guns, bullets, war planes and bombs were human inventions used to exterminate humanity. My human rights background as a lawyer further advanced knowledge on human rights violations and the perils of crisis and wars occasioned by technology with the ultimate victim being humanity. Hence, I wanted to see how we can channel human innovation on tech and artificial intelligence to advance social good and human coexistence. I believed that without humans, tech is nothing and without tech our lives can’t be transformed to meet modern challenges. A harmonious interaction between tech and humanity will create a better world for all.

The journey so far in technology and artificial intelligence for social good has been one with a lot of positives. Though while there have been amazing opportunities, success stories but equally there have been setbacks as well. In all it’s been a journey with grit and determination and placing self-belief above every challenge. There have been a lot of lessons learned, experience to pick up and grow with.

You are an advocate for bridging the inclusion gap for marginalized communities. How do you ensure that underrepresented groups have a voice in the rapidly evolving field of technology and AI? 

While the issue of inclusion is a global challenge little has been done to bridge this. As an advocate and firm believer of inclusion I have been able to bridge the inclusion gap through several projects and initiatives. I have carried out AI and tech for good advocacy projects in citadels of learning from primary, Secondary and universities.

To give more persons in education a voice in AI, informed the AI club in these institutions whereby students can belong to and co-create ideas in AI. I also established the AI Journal to encourage research work in the field of AI and tech for good. In addition, I have established two awards for the best graduating student in AI and the best AI Innovator. This is done to encourage scholarship in AI amongst students.

I created an AI and tech community in marginalized areas to galvanize efforts in AI in rural areas and communities. I organized the first of its kind AI in Slums to give those living in slums a chance to understand AI and have practical hands-on experience. I carried out AI advocacy in local languages in diverse communities.

Also, through my AI podcast initiative those in marginalized communities have a chance to express their views about AI and learn more on how they can contribute to the growth of AI.

Africa4dev focuses on leveraging AI for social good. Can you share a specific project or initiative where you successfully applied AI to address societal challenges? What were the outcomes? 

Through our AI training for Civil Servants in Government Ministries we have been able to achieve sustainable digitalization. Also our AI in Journalism project has trained journalists and reporters to report on unethical practices inherent in technology systems in the global south thereby keeping watch over inhumane tech practices and putting tech companies and developers in check.

In furtherance of achieving a veritable legal human centered framework for AI, we created an AI Policy for social good to the legislative arm of government in Rivers State as well as train the officials on the rudiments of AI legislation and best global practices. This solved the challenges of lack of legal provisions governing AI and tech development.

The challenges of insecurity in the state required use of modern technology and AI systems. Our AI training initiative for Security personnels on use of AI surveillance systems helped tackle incessant security challenges.

Our AI for rural health in communities Project ensures we partnered with different health organizations to bring health solutions to remote communities. This ensured people get quality health care services irrespective of their location.

As a mentor at platforms like “All Tech is Human” and “Deep Indaba Africa,” what are the key lessons you impart to emerging AI enthusiasts, and how does mentoring contribute to the overall growth of AI in Africa?

Mentoring in top organizations like the All Tech is Human and Deep Indaba Africa was an opportunity to educate mentees and AI enthusiasts on diverse areas of ethical challenges of AI. Key lessons were centered on how they can become a voice in advocacy for AI for social good, adopting a learning curve to grow in the field of AI, being a willing learner and having a mindset of making an impact in their world. I made them understand that AI has its own shortcomings, and that human oversight is what will make AI serve us not otherwise.

Mentorship is essential if AI is to thrive in the global south. Africa has a lot of young and vibrant youths, and this is an advantage it possesses over others. However, without proper mentoring of these youth on AI, it is difficult to achieve digitalization. The people must be part of the process and not run away from it.

Mentorship ensures the youths are guided in diverse AI and tech fields and this enables them to contribute their knowledge to AI and tech growth in Africa. AI is a foreign concept and for it to thrive in Africa in Africa we must localize it through mentorship of Africans to understand its use, limitations, design, development and deployment. Africans need to be more involved in AI conversations.

During your participation in the Women Techmakers Port Harcourt Conference, you advocated for inclusion and gender equality in tech. How do you believe AI can help bridge the gender gap, and what challenges do we still face in achieving equality in the tech space?

My participation at the Women Techmakers Port Harcourt Conference was one that centered on inclusion and gender equality and this is because AI has the potential to either widen the already existing inclusion gap or reduce it. AI can help identify existing biases and discriminatory practices in AI systems used in recruitment, training and promotion in the employment sector for instance.

AI can be used to empower marginalized groups as women through remote learning to obtain digital skills and training especially in regions where women do not have equal access to education and training. Also nursing mothers can continue to work via remote work through AI systems enabling them to keep up with their male counterparts while at same time effectively discharging their home duties.

AI can also help government and civil society organizations make informed decisions on areas of existential gender inequality towards addressing and curbing this trend.

Challenges:

The challenges in achieving equality in the tech space include the prevalence of social and cultural beliefs which places men more preferred in pursuing STEM careers. Also workplace norms can place value more on men in tech than women. In developing countries particularly in Africa, women are at a disadvantage in accessing resources and opportunities needed to thrive in the tech field. Lack of financial, education, and mentorship to embark on tech is far reaching on the female gender.

Also, the existence of bias in AI algorithms means that most AI systems are already programmed and trained on biased datasets which do not favour women. The results of this is that women are subjected to discriminatory policies and biased outcomes.

The underrepresentation of women in active tech roles is a major concern and a hindrance to gender equality in tech. Few women are actively involved in the design, development and deployment of tech systems and this results in a one gender sided perspective in technology designs.

In what ways do you believe your work at Africa4dev is empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators? How do you envision AI shaping the future of education and workforce development in Africa?   

At the Africa tech for development Initiative-Africa4dev we are advancing responsible technology and Artificial Intelligence for social good through areas of research, innovation, policy development, education and advocacy.

We believe that the future is now hence our mission to promote ethical tech and collaboration for sustainable development. At Africa4dev our work is significantly empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators through several ways such as promotion of AI literacy accessible to youth through training programs and partnership with Universities and integrating AI into school curriculums. This empowers young Africans with skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a digital economy.

The introduction of our student awards for innovation fosters competition and creativity amongst students as well as encourages them to practically apply this knowledge thereby nurturing to be able to solve local and global challenges through AI.

Our work in digital workforce development aims to bridge the skills gap that exists between education and the demands of the current and future job market. This will ensure youths are ready to face the challenges of the future as well as create solutions to future challenges. Also, by empowering marginalized communities, Africa4dev is ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital revolution.

No doubt Africa’s education and workforce development is undergoing vast transformation and the future is promising. AI would play an integral role in education through personalized learning, easy access to digital tools and education resources making learning more accessible to all, especially those in remote communities.

African workforce will need to digitally adapt to contemporary global best wishes practices hence the ongoing wave of AI and tech awareness in Africa will position her to compete favourably globally. This is even more possible as Africa has one of the highest populations of youths globally.

There would be a need for the future workforce to constantly upskill due to the dynamic nature of technology. This would become essential to enable adaptive and sustainable workforce in a future driven by tech.

Also, there would be more increased collaboration and partnership between academia and the private sector industry in Africa. This will ensure the youths and workforce remain on track to compete both locally and internationally. We also envision a future of inclusive and equitable growth where every youth irrespective of background or geography will have unhindered equal access to technology education and workforce opportunities.

As a lawyer who has successfully transitioned into Tech and AI, what key strategies would you recommend for other lawyers to remain relevant in the Fourth Industrial Revolution? 

To remain relevant in the Fourth Industrial Revolution a lawyer must learn, relearn and unlearn. The world is changing rapidly and new ideas are replacing the old order. A lawyer who fails to adapt will be left behind in this revolution. Hence the need to be abreast with developments in tech and see how modern tech and AI trends have aligned with law to improve legal practice. This requires having an open mind to learn the new and embellish the old ways of law practice. In a dynamic tech driven world, a lawyer must understand the role and need for educating himself and upskilling where necessary. A lawyer must embrace innovations in tech and AI that can aid the legal profession while being open to more knowledge outside the law.

Do you believe lawyers are well-suited for roles in Artificial Intelligence and tech-driven industries? What unique skills do they bring to these fields?

The law profession is a versatile one and a lawyer is trained to be a willing learner. Hence lawyers are well suited for a plethora of roles in Artificial Intelligence and tech driven industries. Lawyers bring the skills of ethical evaluation of Artificial Intelligence, tech systems and their algorithms and ensure whether they comply or violate ethical guidelines and standards by way of bias, discrimination, privacy issues, inequality and harm by ensuring transparency and accountability.

Also, lawyers are useful in the field of AI governance and Policy framework. Without the deep legal knowledge of lawyers, it will be difficult to come up with a comprehensive legal framework to guardrail AI development. Lawyers also play prominent roles in ensuring that tech organizations and companies have and comply with their own AI governance mechanism.

Data privacy is at the heart of many AI-driven applications. Lawyers bring a detailed understanding of data protection laws, such as the GDPR and CCPA, and help ensure that AI systems comply with privacy regulations. They can also advise on cybersecurity regulations, helping to protect the integrity and confidentiality of data of companies and organizations.

As governments increasingly turn their attention to regulating AI, there’s a growing need for legal professionals who can shape public policy. Lawyers can engage in lobbying, advising on legislation, or working within governmental bodies to advocate for balanced, forward-looking regulations that foster innovation while protecting public interests.

Protecting innovations through patents, copyrights, and trademarks is a core concern for tech companies, especially in AI, where new algorithms, machine learning models, and software are continually developed. Lawyers with expertise in IP law and tech can help tech firms safeguard their proprietary technology, handle licensing issues, and navigate complex IP disputes.

Could you share some of the key steps or strategies that helped you successfully transition from traditional law to a career in tech? What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?

One key step to transforming from track law to a career in tech is self-belief. If you believe in yourself, dreams and competence you are halfway there. Belief holds about 50% of one’s success in any endeavour. With the belief to upskill and succeed I proceeded to identify areas of tech that align with my deep interest. Which became Artificial Intelligence. Thereafter I underwent rigorous training and learning on Artificial intelligence, obtained certifications, attended several seminars and conferences on AI, offered volunteering in organizations and this earned me vast experience. In addition, I constantly updated my knowledge as the tech field is dynamic. I equally showed up by being visible in the tech space, made research contributions, spoke at local and global conferences and summits, attended seminars and initiated tech projects in my field.

The biggest challenge I experienced was not having a mentor to guide me into the new field of tech. I had to claw myself from knowing nothing about tech to being where I am today. Also, I faced the challenge of embarking on a novel field that is relatively unknown hence I was dissuaded against upskilling into AI as many feared it wasn’t a profitable area for a lawyer. However, I held my ground and I was able to overcome these challenges through firm self-belief, having a well-structured plan to upskill into a new niche as Artificial Intelligence, then having the willingness to learn every day and show up even if the ovation isn’t there. I’m glad it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made.

With such a busy and impactful career, how do you find time to unwind, and what activities help you recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance?     

I understand that the mind is the engine that propels great ideas and having a good work-life balance is crucial hence I find time out of my busy schedule to unwind always. I relax by reading novels, seeing movies and taking a walk. I also enjoy good music and watch football or play table tennis over the weekends. In my spare time I visit the gym to keep fit. These help me to be mentally, physically and emotionally ready for the work ahead.

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