A data scientist with the National Space Research and Development Agency, Oluwaleke Oni, has urged Nigerians to adopt safer digital habits to safeguard their online activities.

He also called for stronger accountability in the deployment of AI systems. Mr Oni gave the advice in an interview in Ibadan on Tuesday. He said that many Nigerians unknowingly expose themselves to privacy risks through social media, mobile applications, and AI-powered platforms.

According to him, oversharing personal information online remains one of the most common mistakes people make.

He also identified indiscriminate approval of application permissions as another major concern.

The data scientist further warned against password reuse across multiple online accounts, noting that compromising one account could expose several others.

Mr Oni advised Nigerians to use strong and unique passwords for different accounts, enable two-factor authentication, regularly review app permissions and exercise caution before sharing sensitive information online.

Speaking on the increasing use of AI in banking, healthcare, education and social media, Mr Oni said organisations should strike a balance between innovation and citizens’ privacy.

He said that while AI could improve healthcare delivery, detect financial fraud, enhance education and make public services more efficient, its deployment should be guided by a sense of responsibility.

Mr Oni also called for greater transparency in AI-driven decision-making, especially where those decisions affect an individual’s access to jobs, loans, healthcare or other essential services. According to him, organisations that respect privacy are more likely to earn public trust, which is essential for sustainable technological innovation.

On Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its data protection framework, Mr Oni advocated greater accountability and ethical safeguards for AI systems.

He said organisations deploying AI should explain how their systems make significant decisions, particularly in sectors such as finance, healthcare, education and employment.

He also recommended mandatory privacy and ethical impact assessments before deploying AI systems on a large scale.

Mr Oni urged the government to provide clear and predictable regulations that encourage responsible innovation while protecting citizens’ rights.

(NAN)