Tech CEO urges embrace of AI at Nigeria fintech festival

Mr. Lanre Adelanwa, Co-founder and CEO of Optimus AI Labs, called on tech skeptics to embrace advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mitigate job losses during his keynote address at the inaugural Nigeria Fintech Festival in Lagos.

The Nigeria Fintech Festival event, themed “Nigeria’s Digital Payments Ecosystem,” was sponsored by First Bank and Parallex Bank.

Adelanwa emphasized the ethical Fintech  use of AI to boost productivity, asserting, “AI is not here to take our jobs but will take the jobs of those unable to leverage it.”

The festival featured panel discussions on topics like cybersecurity in the AI age and the expanding role of women in technology.

Chijioke Eze from Interswitch warned that while AI can enhance productivity, mishandling sensitive data could breach customer privacy.

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Gbolabo Awelewa, Chief Solutions Officer at Cybervergent, highlighted the potential of AI to mitigate risks and prevent fraud through automated alerts.

The festival also addressed the challenges in the lending industry and the role of blockchain technology in facilitating cross-border trade. Attendees enjoyed networking opportunities, concluding the event with an after-party.