By Bunmi Yekini
LAGOS, April 9, 2025 — Nigeria’s leading Christian and Islamic leaders have called for urgent national and global conversations around the ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that unchecked technological advancement risks eroding human dignity, faith, and morality.
This call was made on Tuesday at a press briefing hosted by the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Renevlyn Development Initiative RDI Conference Hall in Ikeja, Lagos. The coalition is a collaboration between the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), the Institute of Church and Society (CCN-ICS), and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), with support from the US-based Future of Life Institute (FLI).
In his keynote address, Rt. Rev. E. Oluyinka Akande, Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church Nigeria, emphasized the need for balance between technological advancements and religious values.
“AI is here to stay,” Akande said, “but we will be lying to ourselves if we think that technological development does not affect humanity or the tendency to make men think and act like they are God, even when such acts harm their fellow humans.”
He acknowledged the efficiency of AI in modern life — from healthcare and transportation to social media and e-commerce — but warned that the race toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could lead to the loss of human control and spiritual identity.
“Religious communities cannot shy away from this conversation. We must ask, what happens to our humanity when machines begin to make decisions for us, or when they begin to replicate our thoughts, choices, and values?” he added.
Between Innovation and Idolatry
Akande raised serious theological and moral concerns, particularly around the concept of Imago Dei — the belief that humans are created in the image of God. “If we begin to create machines with personhood, imbued with human-like consciousness and autonomy, we risk diminishing the uniqueness of human beings. Are we prepared for a world where a machine could be considered as being in the image of God?” he questioned.
The Bishop also warned against the idolatrous potential of AGI, noting that replacing God with machines — whether for power, immortality, or convenience — could upend the foundation of religious belief. “Christian and Islamic doctrines are clear: placing one’s trust in anything other than God is idolatry. AI must never become that substitute.”
AI as a Spiritual and Social Disruptor
While outlining the widespread influence of AI, including its use in content recommendation, space navigation, and personalized assistance, Akande stressed that the absence of religious guidance in AI development could lead to social upheaval. “84% of the world’s population believes in traditional religion. Yet, they are largely unrepresented in the global AI conversation. If AI systems are created without considering religious ethics, they could disrupt democracy, jobs, relationships, and ultimately, the human soul.”
He added that AI systems today already influence religious priorities indirectly, for example by amplifying emotional content that affects prayer and charitable activities. “We must be proactive. We need to teach AI what is right and wrong before it becomes too late.”
A Call for Policy and Preparedness
Beyond moral introspection, the coalition made a clear policy demand: Nigeria must lead efforts to shape ethical AI governance, both domestically and internationally.
“Nigeria, as a regional power, must champion global frameworks on AI safety,” Akande said. “This includes limits on computational power, robust liability frameworks, and safety standards — as recommended by the Future of Life Institute.”
Domestically, the coalition called for policies that ensure AI is used ethically in sectors like agriculture, education, and healthcare, in ways that align with Nigerian religious values and protect workers and communities. “This is not about rejecting AI, but about shaping it,” Akande said. “We must use AI to reflect the principles of God — values such as justice, compassion, and purpose.”
Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Nigeria, further revealed that the initiative is part of a nationwide awareness and feedback campaign on AI and its implications for religion and society. “There’s a gap, and we want to fill that gap,” Onyemara said. “This project will run for a year, and it’s already ongoing in the Southwest. After Lagos, we’ll move to Kaduna, then Abuja. We want to engage religious communities, collect feedback, and develop a national response.”
He explained that similar efforts in the past had led to policy documents submitted to the National Assembly, and expressed optimism that this initiative could become a national framework for responsible AI use. “If it bears fruit, we’ll run with it. If not, we’ll review. But this engagement is necessary.”
A Moral and Humanitarian Imperative
The coalition concluded by urging all religious groups to engage critically and cautiously with AI technologies, especially in worship and administration. They warned that without proper discernment, AI could be manipulated to mislead religious communities or dehumanize sacred practices.
Their final message was clear:
- Use AI to support health, education, and productivity.
- Ban any development of uncontrollable AGI that could undermine human dignity or agency.
- Prevent AI from becoming an idol or a stand-in for God.
- Equip communities with the moral tools to shape the AI of tomorrow.
“AI will evolve rapidly,” Bishop Akande concluded, “but if we work on ourselves, spiritually, ethically, and collectively, we can shape technology to serve humanity, not harm it.”