Lagos, Nigeria – Mr. Niyi Yusuf, Managing Partner at Verraki Partners (A Member of Andersen Consulting), delivered a compelling keynote at the 2025 ACAMB Stakeholders Conference, urging financial institutions to adopt ethical, inclusive, and locally relevant Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to drive digital transformation in Africa.
Themed “AI & the Future of Trust: Reimagining Banking and Financial Services in a Digital-First Era,” the conference, hosted by the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), was held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at CIBN Bankers House, Victoria Island, Lagos. It brought together banking executives, leaders, regulators, and communications professionals to explore AI’s role in reshaping the financial services industry.
In his keynote, Niyi emphasised the transformative power of AI, noting that while it is not a new concept, its capabilities have significantly evolved from early academic models to today’s generative AI that can make complex decisions and create original content.
“The future of AI is not about replacing humans but empowering them. We must build intelligent systems that reflect African realities; ethical, explainable, and powered by local data to earn public trust and unlock inclusive growth” said Niyi Yusuf.
He highlighted key priorities for financial institutions looking to implement AI responsibly:
- Data Integrity: Using accurate, diverse, and representative data sets.
- Transparency: Ensure AI systems can explain how decisions were made.
- Ethical Governance: Protecting Privacy and minimising algorithmic bias.
- Continuous Learning: Regularly updating AI tools in response to evolving conditions.
Niyi also pointed out the potential of AI to both displace and create jobs, stressing the need for proactive reskilling of the workforce to meet emerging demands. He lauded the African Union’s efforts in developing a continental AI strategy, as well as the role of regulatory frameworks like the EU AI Act in setting global benchmarks for responsible AI development.
