African academics have called on governments across the continent to urgently confront the growing risks of bias in artificial intelligence–driven migration and identity systems. The call was made at the third International Conference of the College of Management and Social Sciences, Fountain University, held under the theme “Identity, Migration, and Development in the Digital World.”
Presenting a paper titled “Migrant Identity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Surveillance, and Belonging,” researcher and consultant Dr. Nduneche Ezurike warned that AI systems are increasingly shaping the treatment of migrants in ways that undermine their rights and dignity. He argued that technologies such as facial recognition, predictive analytics, and biometric surveillance are reducing migrants to “data points in opaque systems,” with little transparency or accountability. “If we don’t address this digital profiling now, we risk automating discrimination at scale across the continent,” Ezurike cautioned, urging the African Union to develop its own ethical frameworks for the use of AI in migration and public identity management.
In his keynote address, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Obafemi Awolowo University, emphasised the need to democratise digital access and treat connectivity as a basic right. He advocated for inclusive technology policies, digital literacy in local languages, and gender-sensitive training, noting that Africa must build compassionate technologies and inclusive digital communities. “Our youth must learn that identity is culture, not conflict,” Oyeweso said.
Other speakers also highlighted the role of technology in advancing inclusive development. Vice Chancellor of Abdul-Rasak Abubakar Toyin University, Prof. Abdul-Rauf Ambali, stressed that ICT and digital platforms are critical to driving sustainable growth, accountability, and resilience across the continent. Host Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olayinka Ramota Karim, reaffirmed Fountain University’s commitment to fostering global academic excellence while addressing local and global challenges through research and innovation.
Welcoming participants, Dr. Raheemat Adeniran, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, described the gathering as a platform for critical engagement with pressing global issues from an African perspective. The three-day international conference brought together scholars from Nigeria and abroad, covering sub-themes such as digital finance and entrepreneurship, AI and identity governance, migration narratives in media, and the ethical dilemmas of algorithmic decision-making.
