Religious leaders, media professionals, and civil society actors have called for urgent ethical regulations to guide the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in Nigeria. They have warned that unchecked technology could threaten human dignity, truth, and social stability.
The call was made during an interface between religious leaders and journalists on AI and ethics in Nigeria, themed “God in the Engine,” organised by the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) in collaboration with Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence.
The programme, facilitated by the CCN-Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan, with support from the Future of Life Institute, United States of America, was held at the Wesley Pastoral Centre, Sabo Yaba, Lagos.
Among religious leaders present at the engagement were Archbishop Dr. Adeghemi A. Adewale of Methodist Church Nigeria, Archdiocese of RIYE; Elder Obot Akaninyene, National Treasurer of the Christian Council of Nigeria; Archbishop Barrister Christopher Edeh of the Methodist Archdiocese of Enugu; Archbishop Bankole Fabusoro of the Church of the Lord Worldwide; and Archbishop Dr. Jeremiah Okunlola of The African Church and Chairman of the CCN South-West Zone.
Leading the discussions, the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Bishop Evans Onyemara, said the objective of the engagement was to ensure that artificial intelligence developed in ways that support faith, morality, and doctrinal standards rather than undermine them.
He noted that AI was no longer a distant technological concept but had become deeply integrated into communication, governance, education, business, and the media landscape.
According to him, religious institutions and journalists must take deliberate steps to shape ethical conversations around the technology before it evolves beyond human control.
Bishop Onyemara stressed that innovation without ethics could become dangerous, while technological advancement without conscience could create disorder in society.
He said the Church has a responsibility to educate congregations on both the opportunities and dangers associated with AI and AGI, particularly as manipulated images, cloned voices, misinformation, and digital propaganda become increasingly common.
The cleric further emphasised that journalists now carry an even greater responsibility to uphold truth, integrity, and accountability in the digital era.
Also speaking, the Programme Coordinator and Director of the CCN-Institute of Church and Society, Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, emphasised the need for faith communities to remain actively involved in conversations surrounding AI development and regulation.
Speaking during the session, Elder Obot Akaninyene warned that artificial intelligence could increase social isolation if not properly regulated.
He described AI as economically driven and said misconceptions surrounding the technology must be addressed through public education and responsible policymaking.
According to him, AI should never be allowed to outperform or replace human value and judgment, adding that government policies must prioritise humanity above technological advancement.
Also speaking, Archbishop Barrister Christopher Edeh cautioned against allowing machines to gain excessive control over human activities and decisions.
He warned that AGI, if left unchecked, could become dehumanising and gradually erode essential human values, calling on the government to establish strong control mechanisms for its deployment and usage.
The gathering concluded with a collective commitment to continue advocating for ethical AI policies, public awareness, and collaboration among faith institutions, the media, policymakers, and technology stakeholders to ensure that technology remains a tool for humanity rather than a force that controls it.
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