“AI is like that new child in class—sharp, fast, and somehow always knows the answers..……”
Introduction: The Fascinating Evolution of Technology and Society
Once upon a time, data collection meant dusty archives, endless paper trails, and clerks hunched over ledgers. Every action required direct human involvement; the absence of AI’s ability to identify patterns or predict outcomes meant that people had to handle every detail themselves, slowing down processes and limiting productivity. Fast forward to the digital age; we’ve got cloud storage, real-time databases, and an internet brimming with information.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant dream of futuristic societies; it is a present-day reality reshaping industries, economies, and how we live; it has become an integral part of our daily lives, transforming how we interact, work, and make decisions. From healthcare to education, agriculture, and governance, AI has become an indispensable tool driving efficiencies and innovation. It is essential to examine its impact on society, particularly in the Nigerian context. In this blog, we will explore and highlight the benefits and challenges of AI adoption through the lens of BudgIT’s work in the Tech and AI space.
Today, AI is arguably as accurate as your smartphone’s autocorrect (for better or worse). It is changing industries, economies, and daily life—reshaping how we work, interact, and make decisions—across various sectors. Nigeria is no exception in terms of healthcare, governance, artificial intelligence innovation, and efficiency worldwide. Governments, businesses, and civil society organisations (CSOs) now have unprecedented access to data, thereby transforming decisions, and this data access has significantly been transformed over the past century, primarily driven by technological advancements.
AI, the Revolutionary Tool for Civic Engagement.
Artificial Intelligence is the ability of machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These include learning, problem-solving, decision-making, pattern recognition, and even language understanding. The capacity to analyse vast amounts of information and make intelligent decisions makes AI highly applicable across various sectors.
As famously pronounced by Abraham Lincoln on 19 November 1863, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth”. Whether in the Stone Age or technological age, accountability is essential to a government system. In this age, artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial in improving efficiency and transparency in CSOs and the private and public sectors, offering new governance and civic engagement opportunities. Traditionally, CSOs relied on manual data collection and analysis, often facing challenges such as inaccuracy, lack of timely information, and limited resources for large-scale monitoring. In the early 2000s, open data initiatives took centre stage, pushing for transparency and accountability in governance. Then AI waltzed in, making sense of vast data pools in ways that would have made 1950s computer scientists weep with joy. From crunching financial reports to predicting election outcomes, AI has evolved from a theoretical concept to a game-changer in civic engagement. AI has significantly changed this landscape in some ways, including data-driven advocacy, automated monitoring & accountability, enhanced transparency and open governance, predictive analysis for social impact, capacity building & knowledge sharing, operational efficiency – such as research, social media outreach, allowing them to focus on core missions.
Recently, civil society organisations, including Enough is Enough (EiE), Connected Development (CODE), BudgIT, Citizens Gavel, etc., have shown how technology can improve governance and empower citizens. They have leveraged AI-powered tools to enhance transparency, improve governance oversight, and drive impactful policy advocacy, amplifying their impact on policy and social impact.
BudgIT’s Role in Technology and AI
BudgIT, a Nigerian civic organisation that leverages technology to promote transparency and accountability in governance, has worked tirelessly to provide citizens with access to budget information and track government spending and revenues. It developed civic tech web-based tools like www.me.budgit.org, www.govspend.ng, www.openstates.ng, www.tracka.ng, and www.phctracka.org that have made budgets and financial data accessible and understandable to the average citizen. It has helped to empower citizens, providing them with the information they need to hold their elected representatives accountable.
In January 2025, BudgIT launched an AI, Bimi, a non-conventional web-based platform that provides real-time, accurate, and accessible information on public financial management. On www.bimi.budgit.org, you can explore Africa’s Fiscal and public finance data with Intelligence.
The Fear, Concerns and Challenges of AI
AI is like that new child in class—sharp, fast, and somehow always knows the answers. Impressive? Absolutely. Intimidating? Definitely. While AI promises to make life easier—improving governance, fixing the infrastructure gap and boosting local talent—it also comes with its fair share of headaches. A few years ago, when the wave of AI started, the first thought that came to mind was the fear of individuals losing their jobs, as AI had taken over and is still taking over human labour. Staying calm is hard when you hear stories of machines replacing humans at work. When chatbots first appeared, everyone thought call centres were gone for good. That fear hasn’t gone away. On the brighter side, individuals have discovered that AI isn’t just about snatching jobs; it’s about more innovative governance, better healthcare, and more inclusive opportunities—if we get it right.
Like many developing countries, Nigeria is still figuring out how to embrace AI without letting it run wild. Some challenges the country faces with AI include economic inequality, a lack of data access and technology in remote areas, and data privacy. There are skill gaps, shaky infrastructure and zero comprehensive laws to keep AI in check. Nigeria faces unique challenges in harnessing the benefits of AI. Only through collaboration can we ensure that AI becomes a force for good in our societies, benefiting all citizens regardless of socio-economic background.
For AI to truly serve society, we must balance leveraging its strengths while ensuring ethical and inclusive use. It’s up to governments, businesses, CSOs, and everyday Nigerians to push for policies that ensure AI benefits everyone, not just a select few. The bottom line? AI is here to stay, and it’s not waiting for us to catch up. We can either shape its path or watch it reshape us. The revolution is real, but the choice is ours: will AI work for us, or will we end up working for it?
