Across Africa, the AI revolution is rapidly driving innovation in fields like agriculture, healthcare, finance, and education. But as algorithms take on decisions once made by humans, pressing questions emerge: Who owns the data? Who is liable when AI causes harm? What rights do citizens have over their biometric data? These are no longer theoretical concerns; they’re already influencing policy, law, and daily life. Yet in many countries, limited legal education and a lack of tools leave professionals, including lawyers, unprepared to address AI’s growing impact on society.
Davidson Oturu, a corporate lawyer and innovation policy expert, said the continent has a timely opportunity to anchor its AI future in law by building legal knowledge from the ground up and tailoring it to African realities.
“We should develop models trained on African data. I’ve spoken about language, but Africa’s socio-political realities are unique. The way societies and politics operate across the continent demands localized models that fit on-the-ground realities. Regulations and policies must align with local norms, cultural contexts, and philosophies like Ubuntu, a collective approach to community. Integrating these elements into responsible AI ensures it reflects African life, rather than feeling Westernized or alien to the continent,” he explained.
Still, Oturu cautioned that without such education, violations may go unnoticed, and fragmented efforts could leave countries unprepared. Strengthening legal capacity, he suggested, must go hand in hand with regional coordination and long-term policy commitment.
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