THEME: ‘TECH GOVERNANCE IN 2025: BALANCING INNOVATION WITH RESPONSIBILITY’
Protocols.
1. Introduction
It is a great privilege for me to deliver the keynote speech at the 12th
Memorial Lecture in honour of an academic giant and administrator par
excellence, Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe. Professor
Sofoluwe, as a Lecturer, Dean of Faculty, Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Management Services), distinguished himself as an alumnus to become
Vice Chancellor of this university.
I commend the University of Lagos Alumni Association, Lagos State
Branch, for keeping his memory alive through this insightful engagement
with issues of national importance. This annual lecture series in honour of
Professor Sofoluwe represents the kind of public service that our nation
desperately needs.
As a proud alumnus of UNILAG, it is a great honour for me to be here
today. This citadel of learning not only equipped me with sound knowledge
from my first degree and master’s degree to doctorate degree in law that
1shaped my legal scholarship and practice, but it also instilled in me the
values of excellence, resilience, public service and leadership.
I am gratified to be a part of the Alumni Association’s activities. The
Association’s dedication to making our University better through
infrastructure support, mentorship programs, and advocacy for quality
education only strengthens UNILAG’s position as one of Africa’s top
learning centres. It is irrefragable that we are indeed “Greatest Akokites!
2. Relevance of Theme
The theme for this year’s lecture, ‘Tech Governance in 2025: Balancing
Innovation with Responsibility’, is both timely and relevant to Nigeria’s
democratic and developmental aspirations. In this era of technological
revolution, innovation is no longer optional. It is the undisputed necessity
for economic development. While technology forms the backbone of
modern society, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are
transforming the way of doing things and enhancing efficiency and
productivity, which, has integrated nations, with the world becoming a
global village.1
Technology applies to all aspects of human activities, such as business
models and industries (e-commerce, e-banking, etc.), e-voting (including
voters’ registration, actual voting and tabulation of results),2 education (e-
learning),3 virtual legal practice, social media, and cloud computing, which
1 FB Okeshola and AK Adeta, ‘The Nature, Causes and Consequences of Cyber Crime in Tertiary
Institutions in Zaria-Kaduna State, Nigeria.’ [2013] 3(9) AIJCR, 89
2 PS Herrnson, et. al., ‘Voters Evaluations of Electronic Voting Systems – Results from a Usability
Field Study.’ [2008] 36(4) APR, 580.
3 Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy and universities and other educational institutions
websites offer online courses and educational resources that allow users to learn new skills and
subjects remotely.
2have transformed the way goods and services are produced, distributed,
and consumed. These examples illustrate the widespread use of
technology today.
As Nigeria continues to harness the benefits of technology, it also imposes
a solemn responsibility of ethical and sustainable practices that respect
human rights and a commitment to the public good. Responsible use of
technology means protecting personal data, safeguarding the populace
from harmful content and preventing its exploitation for fraud, insecurity,
subversion and instability.
3. Development and Importance of Tech Governance
Since 2000, the importance of tech governance cannot be overstated. As
technology takes centre stage in our economy, politics, education,
security, and other human frameworks and structures, technological
innovations have led to new issues, including misuse, safety, and security
concerns stemming from poor governance, which leave vulnerabilities with
global implications.4
The challenge is whether pervasive use of technology will become a force
for development and security (local/national and international) or for
promoting disunity and socio-economic sabotage. There is no way any
responsible government will allow the application of technology that will
undermine the nation’s socio-political and economic foundations.
There is need for regulatory framework with a view to guiding the way of
utilisation of technological innovations and deriving maximum value from
4 https://www.tgov.org/ accessed 17 August 2025.
3investment in technology in the interest of public policy.5 Thus, governance
is necessary in harnessing the benefits of technology responsibly.6
Tech governance focuses on setting rules that encourage innovation while
protecting citizens from abuse. Tech governance refers to the “exertion of
political, economic, and administrative authority in societies,
encompassing the development, dissemination, and functioning of
technology.”7 Tech governance is now recognised as a “central pillar for
helping countries and the international community to reap the benefits of
important technologies, to mitigate risks, and build a more resilient future.”8
4. Tech Governance and Education Sector
Nowhere is the need for tech responsibility and governance more visible
and urgent than in the education sector. As we celebrate the memory of
Professor Sofoluwe, a distinguished academic, it is imperative to
underscore that responsible technology must begin in our classrooms and
research institutions. From virtual learning platforms to AI-assisted
teaching tools and digitised academic records, technology is
revolutionising effective teaching, learning, and knowledge management.
It must be highlighted that access and equity remain critical challenges.
The technological divide in Nigeria continues to exacerbate inequalities in
educational opportunities, especially in accessing vital educational
5 ttps://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Technology_Governance.pdf accessed 17 August
2025.
6 https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Responsible_Use_of_Technology.pdf accessed 17 August
2025.
7 G Kumar, ‘What is Technology Governance?’ https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-
knowledge/technology-governance-1687779582-1 accessed 17 August 2025.
8 https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/technology-governance.html accessed 17 August
2025.
4information by those living in underserved communities.
9 As a result, many
Nigerians are being left behind as they are unable to access technology.
Although this is rooted in a policy challenge, it has grown to become a
moral responsibility. It is therefore our collective responsibility that every
Nigerian, regardless of geographical or socio-economic status, benefits
from the technological revolution in the educational sector.
5. Technology, Elections and Politics
Elections have been among the areas where technology has made
profound impacts globally. It should go without saying that most countries
have embraced the far-reaching reforms that technology has introduced to
improve the electoral process.
In Nigeria, its adoption has been gradual, with application in voter
registration and accreditation through smart card readers and previously
Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines with a view to
guaranteeing integrity of verification and accreditation of voters.
Among the lessons from the 2023 general elections was the controversy
over the electronic transmission of results. I explored the legal intricacies
involved in the expectations of technology under the Nigerian law in my
article,
‘Technology and Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022; The Gap
Between Expectations and Reality’10 and made recommendations that
will address the seeming lacuna on the use of technology within the
provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 with a view to breaching the gap
between our expectations and the current realities.
9 ‘ Increasing Access to Technology for
Inclusion.’https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099631003072338051/pdf/IDU1116c98a
914ebc14dc31a47a1495a00553bae.pdf accessed 17 August 2025.
10 Liberty Bar Journal 2nd Edn vol. 2 (2024) 1.
5While e-voting remains a potent tool to build electoral credibility in Nigeria,
it implicates the need for responsible deployment. The alleged foreign
manipulation of the United States elections in 2016 reflects the risks
associated with e-voting. Accordingly, Nigeria should embrace electoral
technology with vigilance, so that firm protections, transparency, and
accountability in usage establish public trust in the democratic process.
In a similar vein, there has been a push for the introduction of e-voting into
the Nigeria political system. Benefits of e-voting are beyond doubt
especially with regards to inclusivity and ensuring that no one is left behind
in political processes. Pundits, however, often overlook, for want of better
word to use, the preconditions that will guarantee a responsible
deployment of such a valuable technology.
Large number of voters don’t only reside in urban areas; in fact, the vast
majority live in the rural areas and far-flung hinterlands. They are not
degree holders or savvy members of elitist communities. In the majority,
they are peasants whose appreciation for technology does not necessarily
coincide with their utmost desire for simple and meaningful existence. In a
country like ours, where the president of the country, 109 Senators and
320 House of Representatives members, are all elected in a single day
across the 774 LCDAs across the land, the challenges that come with e-
voting can only aggravate the notorious tribulations attendant to the
traditional voting methods.
In a country where the majority struggle to have electricity, internet
connectivity is sporadic, and there is a dire absence of relevant
infrastructure and cyber-crime is on a rise, e-voting may take a while yet
to arrive. Rushing e-voting into our political process will be nothing short
of an act of breath-taking irresponsibility by any government. Any
6responsible government must ensure these, and many more challenges,
are addressed before embarking on incorporating e-voting into its system.
The caveat served above must not be taken to imply that nothing can be
done, at least, in preparation for the eventual introduction of e-voting.
Already, our party, APC, has introduced e-registration of its own members.
These are early days but we are looking forward to learning whatever
lessons this modest measure may commend to us in the grand preparation
of e-voting and other similar initiatives in the future.
6. Technology and Fake News
Fake news is another great illustration of how new technology needs to be
used responsibly. Technology and the growth of social media platforms
have made it easier, faster, and cheaper to create and share information
than ever before. Fake news and misinformation represent a major threat
to Nigeria’s democratic stability.11
We are living witnesses of how malicious narratives, often without
evidence, are deployed to cause panic, sow distrust, and derail legitimate
governance efforts. The use of technology in information dissemination is
critical. However, the use of social media platforms like Facebook,
Instagram and X, while generally progressive, should be deployed
responsibly.
No government anywhere in the world will sit idly by while its citizens
employ these platforms in irresponsible manners that can compromise
national security, citizens’ safety and welfare. Balancing innovation with
11 JA Akinola, AP Adewumi and TA Ijaiya, ‘Fake News and Political Misinformation: Implications for
Democratic Process in Nigeria.’ [2024] 12(2) CUJPIA, 176-195.
7responsibility in this area requires governments to take concrete steps to
address the worsening issues of fake news while safeguarding the
democratic right of free speech/press. The goal is to harness the
innovative potential of technology to promote the responsible use of social
media. This will ensure that the dangers of malicious misinformation do not
overshadow the benefits of rapid information dissemination.12
7. Technology and Cybercrime
The menace of cybercrime remains one of the most damaging byproducts
of irresponsible use of technology. There has been an increase in
cybercrimes in various forms, from simple online fraud to hacking,
ransomware attacks, cyber terrorism,13 and even identity theft in the
country.
Cybercrimes can put individuals, businesses, corporate organisations, or
even the government at risk. According to a commentator, estimates of the
cost of cybercrime vary; however, on a global level, cybercrime is expected
to cost the world an estimated ten trillion dollars annually by 2025.14 We
should therefore support the law enforcement agencies, particularly the
EFCC, to clamp down on internet fraud.
8. Miscellany
Other areas require balancing innovation with governance and
responsibility in the use of technology include artificial intelligence
12 I Hassan, ‘Dissemination of Disinformation on Political and Electoral Processes in Nigeria: An
Exploratory Study.’ [2023] Cogent Arts & Humanities, 10(1).
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2023.2216983
13 J Hua and S Bapna, ‘The Economic Impact of Cyber Terrorism.’ [2013] 22(2) TJSIS 175-186.
14 https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/cyber-security-tutorial/what-is-cyber-security#GoTop
accessed 17 August 2025.
8regulation, data privacy and protection, biotechnology and genetic
engineering, environmental impact of technology, digital inclusion, etc.
To this end, the role of universities such as UNILAG is critical. We need a
curriculum reform that promotes technologies in healthcare, education,
agriculture, security, and other economic activities, while ensuring
transparency, accountability, data protection, and fairness in their design
and deployment. This is where UNILAG alumni can play a leading role
through research and advocacy.
9. Conclusion
We should honour the memory of Professor Sofoluwe beyond speeches
by advancing Nigeria’s technological frontiers with the same vision,
integrity, and commitment to educational and technological excellence he
exemplified during his lifetime. We should insist on research and
entrepreneurial creativity that comes with tech governance, ethical
standards and responsibility. Just as Professor Sofoluwe championed
education as a tool for societal development, tech governance should
ensure that innovation serves the public good.
Thank you!
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