Experts in information technology have called for stronger security, governance and ethical practices to build trust in artificial intelligence (AI).
They made the call at the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) 18th Annual Conference, ANNCON 2026, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Themed “Reimagining Trust in the Age of AI,” the conference is jointly organised by ISACA’s four Nigerian chapters — Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ibadan — with the Abuja chapter hosting the 2026 edition.
President of the ISACA Abuja Chapter, Sylvanus Ogenyi, said the conference would focus on building trust in AI and ensuring that technology remained safe for users.
“It’s all about AI and the trust that we have in it,” Ogenyi said.
He noted that increasing reliance on technology by individuals and organisations made security an important consideration in technological innovation.
According to him, Nigeria faces challenges involving hacking, unauthorised access to devices and accounts, as well as cyber-enabled financial crimes.
He said the conference was therefore examining ways to create a safer digital environment where people could confidently use technology.
“As we are innovating, we should be cautious about security measures and imbibe a culture of security first,” he said.
Ogenyi explained that ISACA was a global professional body advancing cybersecurity, information security, IT audit, governance and risk management.
He said the organisation, established in 1967 in the United States, had more than 200,000 members across about 195 countries.
He also said the association had about 230 chapters globally, with the Abuja chapter being one of them.
He described ISACA certification as globally recognised and capable of creating professional opportunities for members across different countries.
Vice President of the ISACA Abuja Chapter and Chairman of the conference organising committee, Chigozie Mbagwu, said AI had changed perceptions about what was real and trustworthy.
“AI has made a lot of things look not real anymore, but we are looking for ways to trust the processes and things it produces,” Mbagwu said.
He said AI was designed to assist humanity, but improper use could create risks and cause harm.
He said discussions at the conference would examine how individuals and organisations could manage risks associated with AI adoption.
He dismissed concerns that AI would only destroy jobs, saying technological advancement could create more opportunities than those lost.
“Many repetitive tasks may be lost, but we expect more jobs to come up as a result of AI,” he said.
He added that artificial intelligence could improve efficiency, save time and support areas such as healthcare and medical treatment.
The keynote speaker at the conference, Dr Ibrahim Waziri, said AI had changed how organisations managed risks, adding that the fundamental goal remained unchanged.
He said the objective should continue to focus on reducing risks, improving transparency and creating safe and secure environments.
“While the playbook and methodology have changed, our goal of managing and reducing risk still remains the same,” Waziri said.
He called for stronger collaboration among regulators, service providers, auditors, technology builders and other stakeholders.
He said traditional regulatory processes were often based on periodic assessments, which could become inadequate amid rapid AI development.
“Builders are now able to build and ship code in hours, so what a regulator certified last year might not remain the same,” he explained.
He advocated continuous and synchronised engagement among stakeholders to ensure emerging technologies remained secure and properly governed.
Academic Relations Liaison for the ISACA Abuja Chapter, Omar Esther Hamzat, said the conference would also focus on empowering young people for the digital economy.
She said a Youth Round Table would provide young participants with opportunities to learn from experienced professionals about career development and advancement.
According to her, experts would share career advice, practical tips and experiences that young people could apply to their professional journeys.
Similarly, Philip Eda, a volunteer with the ISACA Abuja Chapter, said the organisation had evolved beyond its original focus on information systems audit and control.
He said ISACA now covered areas including risk management, governance, innovation, information security and information technology management.
Eda said the organisation offered professional certifications covering audit, risk, governance and information security.
According to him, the conference would help members understand the technologies behind AI, rather than focusing only on popular applications.
“We want our members to learn what goes behind AI, how we can learn to trust AI and how we can teach AI so that we can trust it,” Eda said.
He said AI should enhance processes, improve management, strengthen businesses and promote confidence in digital services.
He urged professionals to adopt AI ethically, stressing that the technology could be used positively or negatively depending on how it was deployed.
He said the goal was to ensure that AI adoption benefited society and contributed positively to national development.
In the same vein, Hafsat Kaugama, Research and Marketing Director of the ISACA Abuja Chapter, described the conference as the result of extensive preparation and teamwork.
She encouraged technology professionals, students and enthusiasts to join ISACA and benefit from its professional community.
Kaugama said her involvement in the organisation had exposed her to valuable lessons in time management, people management and emotional intelligence.
It was reported that the conference also featured exhibitions and interactions among regulators, technology builders, data professionals and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The two-day conference will climax on Tuesday, followed by a dinner and award night on Wednesday.
A post-conference workshop is scheduled for Aug. 27 and 28, according to the organisers.
