African policymakers, technology experts and civil society leaders have unveiled a new continent-wide initiative aimed at strengthening ethical oversight and governance of artificial intelligence as AI adoption rapidly expands across Africa.
The programme, known as the Pan-African AI Ethics and Governance Fellowship, was launched by the Policy Innovation Centre in partnership with the Africa Hub for Innovation & Development, with support from Luminate.
The initiative is designed to help African countries build safer, more inclusive and accountable AI systems while improving institutional capacity to regulate emerging technologies.
The fellowship comes at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed across healthcare, agriculture, education, finance and public administration, raising concerns over regulation, privacy, accountability and social risks.
Organisers said the programme seeks to tackle growing fears surrounding algorithmic bias, misuse of personal data, weak oversight and the exclusion of vulnerable communities from the benefits of AI-driven innovation.
The 12-week virtual fellowship will bring together over 50 professionals from government institutions, academia, media organisations, civil society groups, regulators and private sector firms across Africa.
Participants will undergo expert-led training, mentorship sessions and policy development workshops focused on creating governance frameworks tailored to African realities.
Speaking during the launch, Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Dr Osasuyi Dirisu, said the initiative was created to ensure Africa actively shapes global AI governance conversations instead of simply adopting foreign regulatory models.
“This Fellowship is designed to move beyond conversations on AI and focus on building practical governance capacity across African institutions,” Dirisu said.
“We are raising the next generation of African leaders who will sit at the intersection of AI system development in Africa and ensure that these systems are inclusive, ethical, and serve the public good,” he added.
The initiative reflects growing efforts across the continent to balance rapid technological innovation with safeguards capable of protecting citizens from unintended consequences linked to artificial intelligence.
Experts have repeatedly warned that weak regulation could expose African economies to exploitative technology practices and excessive dependence on foreign AI systems.
Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Hub for Innovation & Development, Dr Kunle Kakanfo, said the fellowship would also encourage collaboration among African professionals tackling AI governance challenges across different countries.
“The fellowship for us is not just about leadership development in AI ethics and governance; it’s also about making significant connections, cross-country networks, and being able to cross-breed experience,” Kakanfo stated.
“This fellowship would be a catalytic platform that is able to help us drive the needed change that we need within AI ethics and governance on the continent.”
Speaking at the event, National Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Dr Olubunmi Ajala, described the programme as Africa’s organised response to one of the most important technological transformations globally.
“This is a deliberate, organised, and urgent response of Africa to one of the most consequential technological revolutions in human history,” Ajala said.
“If we don’t do what we need to do in terms of governance and ethics, the problems will go beyond technology failures, and some of the damages could be colossal,” he warned.
Participants also described the fellowship as an important step toward bridging the gap between innovation and regulation across Africa’s fast-growing digital economy.
Head of Product at Auto Check Africa, Ayobola Adedayo, said the programme would deepen her understanding of responsible AI adoption and governance.
A Kenyan technology journalist participating in the fellowship, Carol Odero, also stressed the urgency of stronger AI regulation as debates continue globally over how emerging technologies should be governed.
“I have spent a lot of time with innovators who think that AI should be left to run wild,” Odero said.
“But I would like to show them that there is a different path, and I’m hoping to get that out of the fellowship.”
Organisers said the initiative aims to build a long-term network of African AI governance experts capable of influencing policy reforms, improving institutional oversight and promoting fairer AI systems across the continent.
The Policy Innovation Centre added that the fellowship aligns with its broader mission of advancing evidence-based policymaking and innovation across Africa’s public and private sectors.
