A professor of Computer Science at Lagos State University, Prof. Oluwatoyin Enikuomehin, has called on the Federal Government to urgently pass a National AI Act, warning that artificial intelligence is already reshaping how people think, remember and make decisions faster than the country can regulate it.
The don made the call on Tuesday while delivering the university's 127th Inaugural Lecture, titled "Thinking Machines and the Future of Thinking: Cyberphysicalism, the Transformation of Human Thought and the Emergence of an Artificial Intelligence Driven Algorithmic Society."
According to Enikuomehin, the more pressing question today is not whether machines are intelligent, but how deeply AI has begun to influence human cognition, noting that many people now unconsciously "think with machines" from the moment they wake up and reach for their phones.
He cautioned that as AI becomes a more powerful extension of human thought, the need for structured governance grows more urgent by the day.
To address this, the professor introduced what he termed the AI Governance Stack, a seven-layer framework designed to guide responsible and accountable AI deployment. The framework spans infrastructure security, data governance, algorithmic accountability, explainability, ethical oversight, regulatory compliance and societal impact assessment.
He stressed that governance failures at any single layer of the stack could undermine the entire system, using the analogy that even strong ethical oversight cannot fix outputs distorted by weak data governance. He therefore urged Nigeria to develop a detailed legislative framework that clearly defines governance requirements at every layer.
Beyond legislation, Enikuomehin proposed the creation of an independent National AI Research and Governance Council to monitor AI's social impact, guide government policy and represent Nigeria at international AI governance forums.
He further warned that poor digital infrastructure could deepen existing inequalities if left unaddressed, calling for universal broadband access, affordable devices and stable electricity supply to ensure AI benefits all Nigerians rather than widening the gap between the privileged and the underserved.
While encouraging Nigerians to embrace AI, the professor cautioned against surrendering independent thought entirely to machines, urging citizens to verify AI-generated information, exercise ethical judgment and safeguard their digital identities, stressing that personal data now functions as a kind of digital footprint tied to human dignity.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, described the lecture as engaging and insightful, noting that it captured the shift from human to machine-assisted thinking and how emerging technologies are reshaping society.
She also announced that Enikuomehin would be the first inaugural lecturer to receive the university's newly introduced commemorative certificate, formally welcoming him into the University Senate and the Body of Professors.
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