Focus on Africa
Who is "in charge" of Africa's AI?
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21 January 2026
23 minutes
Available for over a year
A new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change says that most countries, including those in Africa, will find it difficult to have full autonomy over AI systems. According to the Institute, only 32 countries worldwide host AI-specific data centres, leaving around 160 nations dependent on foreign infrastructure. We hear how the situation is for African countries.
And, Nigeria wants to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland in Southern Rivers State; thirty years after environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were executed following a protest that saw the killing of four tradional chiefs of an oil producing community known as Ogoni. This led to the suspension of exploration by oil giant Shell – the company accused of causing the environmental damage. We hear the views of the Nigerian government and environmental activists.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Ayuba Ilya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
