Prof. Barde Urges Government To Pass Laws Guiding Ethical Use Of AI and Robotics
Professor Barnabas Embugus-Barde of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, is calling on federal, state, and local authorities to pass clear laws on the ethical use of artificial intelligence, robotics, and data-driven systems. His message is blunt: firms that ignore digital tools and staff training will fall behind.
Speaking at the university's 56th Inaugural Lecture, he urged business leaders to invest in technology and train their people to use it well. He also warned public institutions and regulators to prepare for job displacement risks and rising demand for new skills.
Why this matters for government
- AI and robotics are changing work and service delivery. Without standards, adoption will be uneven and risky.
- Clear rules can protect citizens, set expectations for businesses, and improve trust in public services.
- Skills policy lags tech. A coherent plan for reskilling is now a workforce necessity, not a bonus.
- Data use can improve decisions, but it can also create privacy, bias, and oversight problems if left unchecked.
Key policy actions to consider
- Pass a national AI and robotics ethics bill that sets requirements for safety, transparency, human oversight, auditability, redress, and accountability across sectors.
- Adopt a risk-based approach. Use established frameworks such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework for government projects and regulated industries (NIST AI RMF).
- Require impact assessments for high-risk systems (jobs, public services, critical infrastructure), including bias testing and clear escalation paths when harm is detected.
- Set procurement standards: no black-box models for high-stakes use; mandate model documentation, data provenance, and explainability suitable for auditors.
- Fund reskilling at scale through public-private partnerships, with priority tracks for displaced workers and frontline public servants.
- Establish data governance rules: collection limits, retention policies, privacy-by-design, and penalties for misuse.
- Create regulatory sandboxes for responsible testing under supervision, alongside an independent oversight body with audit powers.
- Support SMEs with grants and shared digital infrastructure so compliance doesn't stifle innovation.
What Prof. Embugus-Barde told business leaders
He urged firms to invest in digital tools and train employees to use them effectively. The goal: better decisions, higher productivity, stronger revenues, and smarter risk controls.
But he drew a clear line: increased automation can squeeze workers if leadership focuses only on output. Data analytics can improve targeted marketing and product development, yet employee well-being cannot be an afterthought.
His words were direct: "AI and robotics are gradually taking away jobs from humans… Employees must learn and equip themselves with relevant skills to remain useful in the workplace."
Workforce implications and a practical path
- Expect task displacement in routine roles and new demand for oversight, data quality, process redesign, and human-in-the-loop functions.
- Back short-cycle credentials in AI literacy, data analysis, automation safety, and change management for both public and private workers.
- Tie tax incentives and public contracts to verifiable staff training and redeployment plans.
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Entrepreneurship and new models
He noted that entrepreneurship can open fresh, digital-first revenue streams. Policy can help by streamlining business registration, enabling open data where appropriate, and funding pilots that convert public-sector problems into local business opportunities.
Voices from the institution
The university leadership praised the lecture as timely and grounded in the realities of automation, digital intelligence, and innovation. Colleagues highlighted his commitment to addressing barriers that hold back business growth in Nigeria.
Bottom line for policymakers
Build legal guardrails for ethical AI and robotics. Make skills funding predictable and tied to outcomes. Set procurement and audit standards that reward transparency. And create room for entrepreneurship so adoption leads to better jobs and better services, not just cheaper processes.
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