By Danjuma Amodu
Nigeria is accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence into public administration, as the Federal Government rolls out a wide-ranging reform programme aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery across the civil service.
The initiative took a formal step forward on Wednesday in Abuja, where the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), in partnership with UNESCO and with support from the European Union, opened a three-day AI literacy training programme for senior civil servants.
Declaring the programme open, Head of the Civil Service Didi Esther Walson-Jack said the government would press ahead with AI-driven reforms as part of a broader effort to modernise governance and strengthen institutional performance.
Represented by Dr Gideon Adogbo, she noted that AI is reshaping how governments operate worldwide, influencing policy development, service delivery and public responsiveness.
“The Nigerian Federal Civil Service cannot afford to be left behind in this transformation,” she said, adding that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises digitalisation, accountability and improved public services.
Walson-Jack said the civil service had already made strides in deploying digital tools to enhance coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), improve knowledge management and streamline operations.
A key development, she said, is the launch of “Service Wise GPT”, an AI-powered platform designed to help public servants navigate Public Service Rules, financial regulations, procurement guidelines and official circulars more quickly and accurately.
She stressed that the platform is intended to support, not replace, human decision-making, with the aim of reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and boosting institutional effectiveness.
At the same time, Walson-Jack cautioned against the unchecked adoption of AI, warning that without proper oversight it could expose public institutions to risks such as algorithmic bias, misinformation, data misuse, privacy breaches and weakened accountability.
“Artificial intelligence must promote openness, not secrecy. It must reinforce accountability, not diminish it,” she said, insisting that all AI deployments must comply with existing procurement and transparency regulations.
She highlighted the role of Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of ICT as critical to implementation, describing them as the link between policy and practice who must ensure that digital systems are secure, auditable and aligned with national priorities.
Speaking for UNESCO, Acting Head of the Education Sector at UNESCO Abuja, Mr Oladeji Adeyemi, described the training as a milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to build a responsible and inclusive AI ecosystem. He said AI had become central to the global digital economy and that AI skills were now vital for economic readiness and workforce competitiveness.
He added that Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and Digital Economy Plan reflect a deliberate approach to using AI to improve productivity, security and service delivery in sectors such as education, healthcare and governance. The approach, he said, is consistent with UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted by more than 190 member states as a global framework for rights-based and development-oriented AI.
Also addressing participants, Mrs Joy Baderin, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Special Duties Office at OHCSF, said the training was timely and that digital transformation was now essential for effective governance. She noted that the programme uses a “train-the-trainers” model to ensure knowledge is cascaded across MDAs for long-term sustainability.
Adeyemi further said the initiative reflects a strong partnership between Nigeria and international development partners to equip civil servants with the skills needed for responsible AI adoption. He recalled that UNESCO, with EU support, had earlier launched an AI Readiness Assessment Methodology in Nigeria to strengthen preparedness and guide policy development.
The training is grounded in UNESCO’s global ethical framework for AI and is designed to build both technical competence and ethical discipline among participants. Attendees are expected to return to their institutions with practical strategies for deploying AI tools, strengthening oversight of digital systems and improving service delivery outcomes.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the ultimate aim of the reform is to improve the welfare of Nigerians through more efficient, transparent and responsive governance.
“The future of the Nigerian Civil Service will be shaped by our ability to combine innovation with integrity, technology with accountability, and efficiency with service to the people,” she said.
The programme underscores Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a regional leader in responsible AI while ensuring that digital transformation delivers measurable benefits for citizens.
