The Enugu State government says it is pursuing drastically improved productivity in the state civil service through the positive application of artificial intelligence (AI) in service delivery.

The Enugu State Head of Service, Godwin Anigbo, said this on Tuesday while declaring open an artificial intelligence (AI) literacy training for permanent secretaries and directors in the state.

The three-day artificial intelligence (AI) literacy training was funded by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the Enugu State Government through the Office of the Head of Service.

Represented by the permanent secretary, general administration in the Office of the Head of Service, Ogbonna Idike, the head of service, said that AI had revolutionised work processes in workplaces and industries.

He noted that AI had great impact especially on the economy, which ultimately was currently creating new opportunities for the overall growth and development of the society.

“As this continues to evolve, it is therefore important for us to understand not only the benefits of AI but also the ethical responsibilities and challenges that come with it.

“This will provide you with the practical knowledge and ideas on how AI can be applied to solve real-life problems and improve productivity in our workplaces and environment,” he said.

Mr Anigbo commended the visionary leadership of Governor Peter Mbah for moving the state civil service from analogue to full-fledged digitalisation of all work processes, leading to increased productivity and efficiency in service delivery.

Dimitri Sanga, the UNESCO representative in Nigeria, said that Nigeria’s AI national strategy emphasised broad-based collaboration and an AI ecosystem grounded in local realities, ethical standards and human-centred designs.

Mr Sanga noted that Nigeria’s approach to AI and digital economy commitment resonated with that of other 192 UNESCO member states that came together in 2021 to adopt the first normative guidelines for responsible AI.

According to him, the guidelines highlight UNESCO’s role as the only United Nations agency with a mandate in the sciences, ensuring that global and regional adoption of AI advances development gains for all, without endangering humanity or violating human rights.

He said that the guidelines, known as UNESCO’s “Recommendations on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence”, is built on the realisation that AI technologies offered immense benefits, greater efficiency, expanded access to information, job creation, and increased public revenues.

Mr Sanga, who was represented by Nneka Okafor, coordinator of UNESCO Recommendations on the Ethics of AI in Nigeria, said, “AI also carries significant risks that must be acted upon.

He said, “UNESCO has also committed significantly to ensuring that Nigeria, as a member state, aligns its AI development plans with best global practice.

“In 2024, UNESCO, with support from the EU and under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, launched the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) in Nigeria.” 

(NAN)