At its 17th Founder’s Day on November 22, 2025, the American University of Nigeria (AUN) welcomed H.E. Ambassador Professor Mahammadou M.O. Kah, D.Sc. (h.c), Ph.D.—Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The Gambia to the Swiss Confederation, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), WTO, and other international organizations in Switzerland, and a distinguished member of AUN’s Governing Council—as the keynote speaker.
Addressing students, faculty, alumni, and international guests at the Aliyu Musdafa Commencement Hall, Prof. Kah delivered a compelling call for African leadership in the digital age, urging the continent to become architects, not spectators, in shaping the technologies that will define its future.
In his keynote titled “The Age of Algorithms,” Prof. Kah paid tribute to AUN’s founder, former Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, describing him as a visionary whose lifelong dedication to education, democracy, and sustainable development positioned the university as a shining example of hope and progress for Nigeria and Africa.
“Your vision created more than a university; it established a platform for building stronger communities, a resilient nation, and a thriving continent,” he said.
Prof. Kah stressed that Africa must actively engage in the global digital landscape to prevent widening inequalities. He highlighted artificial intelligence, data sovereignty, and ethical technology use as critical factors in the continent’s development, cautioning that unequal access to infrastructure, skills, and data could exacerbate existing disparities.
“The divide today is no longer just about connectivity,” he noted. “It is about sovereignty, access, computation, and meaningful participation. Africa must play an active role and become equal partners in shaping the digital future.”
He underscored the continent’s greatest asset—its youth—and called for strategic investment in digital infrastructure, future-ready skills, cybersecurity, and responsible AI governance. Prof. Kah also highlighted AUN’s unique role in producing world-class talent and research tailored to Africa’s realities.
To guide Africa’s digital transformation, Prof. Kah outlined three priorities: developing robust digital public infrastructure, asserting data sovereignty, and implementing ethical safeguards. He stressed that technology must serve citizens, not the reverse, stating: “Technology must empower our people, not the other way around.”
Addressing the AUN community directly, he encouraged students, faculty, and researchers to seize the opportunity to lead in shaping how technology defines the continent’s future. He also acknowledged the contributions of generations of faculty, staff, students, and alumni, noting that the 17th Founder’s Day serves as both a celebration and a reminder of the pioneering vision that continues to guide AUN.
“As we advance,” he concluded, “governance in the age of artificial intelligence must go hand-in-hand with closing the digital divide, ensuring that technology truly benefits all.”
Reported by John Abah