As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and everyday life, experts have stressed the need to build privacy into AI systems from the very beginning rather than treating it as an afterthought.
This message took centre stage at the Privacy by Design Workshop organised by the Nigeria AI Research Laboratory (NAIRL), University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Hive Room of the NITDA ICT Hub.
Themed “Baking Privacy into Artificial Intelligence: A One-day Privacy and Data Protection Impact Assessment Workshop for AI Developers and Deployers,” the one-day workshop formed part of the Laboratory’s mandate to promote research, innovation and capacity development in artificial intelligence while encouraging the responsible and ethical use of AI.
Speaking to participants, the Lead Principal Investigator of NAIRL, Dr. Oladipupo Sennaike emphasised that responsible AI must be built on strong privacy and data protection principles.
He explained that the workshop was designed to equip AI developers, researchers and deployers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to integrate privacy into the design, development and deployment of intelligent systems.
Dr. Sennaike also highlighted NAIRL’s broader vision of advancing responsible, inclusive and human-centred AI research that addresses Africa’s unique challenges through multidisciplinary collaboration, policy engagement and capacity building.
The technical sessions opened with Co-Principal Investigator and Co-convener, Dr. Kemi Omotubora, who introduced participants to the principles of data privacy and protection.
A legal practitioner and faculty member in the University’s Faculty of Law, Dr. Omotubora delivered an engaging session on Nigeria’s data protection laws, international best practices and the practical steps for conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
Through practical examples and interactive exercises, she demonstrated how AI developers can identify and address privacy risks during system design instead of trying to fix them after deployment.
Participants also learnt practical approaches to identifying, assessing and mitigating privacy risks throughout the AI development process.
Earlier, the workshop featured a presentation on Privacy by Design by a Professor of Law and Technology at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, Professor Subhajit Basu. The presentation described privacy as a core design principle rather than a compliance requirement.
Prof. Basu encouraged participants to embed privacy into AI systems from the outset, explaining that trustworthy AI depends on anticipating risks early, minimising unnecessary data collection, promoting transparency and placing people at the centre of technological innovation.
The Chair in Law and Technology at the University of Leeds also noted that innovation and privacy should complement one another, stressing that responsible AI is achieved when both advance together.
What followed was an interactive question-and-answer session that rounded off the workshop, giving participants the opportunity to engage the facilitators on emerging privacy issues, regulatory compliance and the future of responsible AI in Nigeria.
By the end of the workshop, participants had gained practical skills to identify privacy risks before writing code or making model fine-tuning decisions that could embed vulnerabilities into AI systems. They also developed a better understanding of the relationship between intelligent systems and the people they serve, reinforcing the need to build AI that protects individual rights while delivering societal benefits.
Established at the University of Lagos in , the Nigeria AI Research Laboratory (NAIRL) is dedicated to advancing responsible, inclusive and impactful AI research, strengthening local capacity, influencing policy and ensuring that Africa plays a leading role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Islamiat Oyebanire/ Samuel ( NigAIRLab)
