Abuja Sunday Abo Risad
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has disclosed that the National Assembly is planning a bill to provide a legal framework for the regulation and application of artificial intelligence in Nigeria.
He therefore appealed to the management of the National Institute for Legislative Democracy (NILDS) to explore opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize human capital development.
Prime Minister Abbas specifically ordered the Parliamentary Training Sector Authority to design a curriculum in line with practices in other countries.
Prime Minister Abbas made this appeal in a speech read on his behalf by House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda at the NILDS-University of Benin (UNIBEN) Graduate and HND Program induction ceremony held in Abuja on Monday.
Abbas said many developed countries are advancing their education systems and continue to explore opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize human capital development.
He said, “To focus on this new development, the 10th Congress will seek to provide a legal framework to regulate the introduction of AI in our country.”
“This is to ensure an optimal combination of labor-capital ratios in our country's development process.
“In this direction, NILDS is expected to consider the possibility of providing research-based intellectual support to facilitate the realization of this very important modern process.
“The 10th Congress will continue to support NILDS, so your role as students is simple but important.”
He therefore appealed to the institute's students to attend lectures regularly, complete assignments promptly and strive to follow all rules listed in the student handbook.
Prime Minister Abbas emphasized the role of education in nation-building and national development.
“In my years as a legislator, I have seen how building the capacity and deepening the knowledge of a legislator-centered support system can help improve legislative processes and outcomes,” he said.
NILDS Director Professor Abubakar Sulaiman said this year’s matriculation ceremony was unique in many ways.
First, he said the number of registrations has increased compared to last year.
For example, he said a total of 180 students were admitted to the institute's various postgraduate programs in the current academic session compared to 107 last year.
