Technology
AI vs Humanity: A Battle of Identity
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world. The last two decades have laid the infrastructure to give over 5 billion people access to digital services through smartphones and the Internet. This has primed the world for an AI revolution, the exponential growth of which we’re beginning to see through services like ChatGPT that fundamentally change how we interact with technology.
Like every technological paradigm shift, from fire to flying or the industrial revolution to the Internet, the benefits of AI will also be challenged by its threat. While my pronoid nature is certain that the net impact will be positive (because there are many more good people in this world than bad), one growing area of AI concern is how we distinguish ourselves as human beings versus AI.
Trust is a base requirement for our lives to operate effectively, from our relationships with those around us to our interactions with business and government services. We have built systems to facilitate trust; our ID cards prove who we are, and our physical address ensures that we can be found. But in Africa and other emerging markets, poor identity and physical addressing infrastructure limits trust increase fraud and hold back the economy. MIT estimated that India’s lack of a physical addressing system costs its economy 0.5% of its GDP. Visa’s latest fraud report shows that attempted fraud in Africa is 5x more than in the US.
Over the past two decades, we’ve seen technology try to help us prove we are who we say we are. Before, every transaction at a bank had to be done in person, but over time, these physical verifications have been replaced by digital ones; we’ve all solved annoying online captcha puzzles, fumbled for another one-time pin (OTP), and maybe more recently awkwardly recorded a selfie video of yourself.
However, as more and more services become digital, the fraudsters keep out-innovating these measures. AI can now impersonate a customer service agent or make a video of you speaking from just a photo. This undermines the ability of businesses across various industries to identify and verify their customers. In January 2023, Visa saw a 60x increase in fraud rate for Financial Services compared to just a year earlier.
Proof of address is stuck in the analogue era
Smart operators worldwide understand the threat posed to customer verification by AI and are already investing in mitigations. Meta has begun using paid-for verification for Instagram and Facebook. PayPal uses a detailed process that relies on multiple layers of compliance, verification, and monitoring to verify and onboard customers.
However, proof of identity using an ID card is no longer enough, so startups are innovating to help businesses truly know their customer. Worldcoin launched earlier this year to use a person’s iris as a form of identity; others like Bright ID schedule group video calls where you need to hold a conversation to prove you’re a real human being.
One area that is being overlooked is knowing where the customer lives. In developed markets like the US and UK, your proof of address is the ultimate form of accountability because whether it’s your bank or the police, they can physically find you if you commit fraud.
Yet, proof of address has become harder to validate in our modern world. People don’t live in the same house for most of their lives like before; in fact, digital nomads don’t even have a fixed abode at all. Bank statements or utility bills are no longer posted through the letterbox, enforcing a point of verification because they’re now digital PDFs delivered to your phone. It used to be relatively easy to update your few services when you moved, but now you have an overwhelming number of accounts to update.
And this is the best-case scenario. It’s estimated that 4 billion people – half the globe – do not have a formal physical address because their building or road has no identifier. And what about those who do not have a fixed home because they are homeless or have had to flee their country as refugees?
When global banking regulation forces financial services to only offer their services if the customer can prove their address, this creates a massive problem for the world’s economy. On paper, the regulators are doing the right thing to ensure financial services correctly implement effective Know Your Customer (KYC) measures. However, it creates a catch-22 for financial service providers; to open accounts, they need to have verified customer addresses, but there are no practical ways to do this beyond sending a human agent to the customer’s address, which costs too much, especially for accounts for lower-income customers.
AI to the rescue
My Kenyan co-founder once said, “We’re blessed in Africa to have so many problems because it creates so much opportunity”, and it’s this problem and opportunity that my co-founders and I have spent the last 10 years trying to solve. We believe that it’s a human right for every person to have a verified address so that they can access the services they deserve, from opening up a bank account to having an ambulance arrive at their door.
We see a world where anyone with a smartphone has a digital address that uses the location data in their phone, behavioural science and AI to verify they live where they say they do. As a centralised addressing system, when the person moves, they just have to notify us for all other services to be updated. It puts control of the address into the hands of the user, who can manage their data privacy and only give access to their address to the businesses and people they trust.
The behavioural science in our solution grounds a user’s digital account to the real world through where they live, enabling both proof of address and proof of humanity. While AI can impersonate your voice and create a video of you, it cannot impersonate where you live.
In our new world, where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to build trust and distinguish the difference between AI and a human, perhaps the solution is closer to home than we think.
Timbo Drayson is the CEO & Co-Founder of OkHi
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, says the federal government is preparing investments in 70,000 telecommunications towers in Nigeria.
Speaking in Katsina State during the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0 hosted by the state government, the Minister said over 80 per cent of them would be based in the northern part of the country.
According to him, the goal is to close the existing connectivity gap and make Nigeria the most inclusive digital economy in Africa where no community is left behind.
He further announced that the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network, aimed at connecting every corner of Nigeria, remains one of federal government’s biggest investments in the digital space.
“Under President (Bola) Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we have focus on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity,” Mr Tijani said.
“One of our biggest investments in the digital space is the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network aimed at connecting every corner of the country.
“In addition to this, the government is preparing investments in 70,000 telecommunications towers of which over 80 percent of them will be based in the Northern part of Nigeria to close the existing connectivity gap. Our goal is to make Nigeria the most inclusive digital economy in Africa where no community is left behind,” he added, noting that under President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, his Ministry has focused on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity.
“This tech festival today is not just an event, it has a strong signal from Katsina, the Arewa states and a signal that Arewa is ready.
“I, therefore, challenge participants, particularly the innovators in the room, that you don’t need to move to Lagos or Abuja to be successful, all you need is also not to wait for formation, because all you need is yourself and your formation.
“We are building a Nigeria that works for everyone in a nation where being born in Katsina or Kano is not at the disadvantage but a strategic advantage.
“The future of Nigeria and that of Africa is not being written in the silicon valley of Lagos or Abuja but being written right here today in Katsina,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Ten African start-ups, including two from Nigeria, have been selected for the Qualcomm Make in Africa 2025 for a chance to receive the Social Impact Fund, provided through the Qualcomm® Wireless Reach Initiative. This fund supports startups in scaling their societal and market impact.
One startup will be awarded the fund for its innovative use of wireless technology to address community needs, while the other nine will receive stipends to support their growth and continued development.
In a statement made available to Business Post, it was disclosed that the shortlisted small firms were from approximately 435 applications from 19 countries received this year.
The lucky companies are Aframend for Nigeria, which deals in AI-driven drug discovery with African phytochemicals; AmalXR from Tunisia focusing on AI-powered VR rehabilitation with clinical validation and progress simulations; Archeos from the Benin Republic dealing with Solar/IoT pisciculture automation for optimal water quality and feeding; ClimatrixAI from Nigeria focusing on hyperlocal flood risk prediction and monitoring; and Ecobees from Tunisia, an AI-based beekeeping for hive health, water levels, and climate conditions.
Others are Edulytics from Senegal, which is an AI-based mobile liver fibrosis detection using ultrasound images; Farmer Lifeline from Kenya using solar-powered AI robots for crop pests and disease detection; Pixii Motors from Tunisia dealing in electric scooter with AI/IoT battery optimization and swap stations; Pollen Patrollers from Kenya using AI/IoT based precise and healthy pollination to combat hive collapse; and Solar Freeze also from Kenya using solar-powered IoT cold storage to reduce post-harvest food loss.
The SVP and president of Qualcomm for MEA and SVP for Government Affairs at EMEA, Wassim Chourbaji, in the statement was quoted as saying, “This year’s cohort of deep technology startups is a testament to Africa’s burgeoning innovation landscape.
“By leveraging Qualcomm’s cellular, IoT, and edge-AI technologies, these startups are poised to revolutionize agriculture, sustainability, climate change, transportation, and healthcare. We are honored to support their journey toward creating transformative solutions for a better future.”
The Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), John Omo, while also commenting, said, “ATU is proud to partner with Qualcomm on the 2025 Make in Africa program.
“Innovation is the engine of Africa’s future, and it is clear the ten startups in this year’s cohort exemplify its power. While ATU works to align spectrum policy, regional standards, and open-data practices so that new technologies move quickly from lab to market, we also recognize that real progress demands a broad coalition.
“We, therefore, call on governments, academia, investors, and industry to back these ventures—and every initiative that puts African ingenuity first.”
The Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform is currently in its third year. The programme supports the development of Africa’s deep technology ecosystem by providing mentorship, and technical, business and IP training programs with a focus on 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute,
Technology
Unlocking Competitive Advantage: The Critical Role of Data Management in Today’s Business Climate
In an era defined by digital transformation and rapid technological advancement, data has emerged as one of the most valuable assets an organization can possess. From driving operational efficiency to enabling strategic decision-making, data management is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. Yet, in many regions such as Nigeria, this understanding has yet to fully take root.
Globally, forward-thinking organizations are treating data as a strategic asset, building data-driven cultures, and investing in robust governance frameworks to ensure data quality, security, and utility.
Chief Data Officers (CDOs) are increasingly becoming key figures in the C-suite, responsible for overseeing data governance, compliance, analytics, and innovation.
However, in Nigeria—a country with a rapidly expanding digital economy—only four banks have appointed a CDO, highlighting a significant gap in data leadership and awareness.
This gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Without sound data management practices, organizations risk regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and operational inefficiencies.
On the flip side, those who invest in proper data governance, data quality, metadata management, and master data strategies can unlock significant value and build a sustainable competitive advantage.
Berkeley Data Strategists: Leading the Change
Berkeley Data Strategists is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. We are currently engaged with First Bank of Nigeria to empower their data team through the globally recognized Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) program.
This initiative provides practical, best-practice-based training aligned with DAMA-DMBOK2 standards, equipping First Bank’s team with the tools and knowledge to build a mature, agile, and secure data environment.
This partnership is a bold step in the right direction, positioning First Bank as a leader in data governance maturity within the Nigerian financial sector. By investing in CDMP certification and embedding best-in-class practices, First Bank is setting a benchmark for other institutions to follow.
A Call to Action for Nigerian Banks
We urge all banks and financial institutions across Nigeria to follow First Bank’s lead. The risks of poor data management are simply too high—and the benefits of getting it right are too great to ignore.
Whether your organization is at the beginning of its data journey or seeking to elevate its existing capabilities, Berkeley Data Strategists is here to support you with tailored frameworks, expert-led training, and hands-on implementation support.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you transform your data into a trusted, strategic asset—because in today’s world, data is not just an IT issue—it’s a business imperative.
For consultation, training, and CDMP certification support, reach out to Berkeley Data Strategists at [email protected] or visit www.berkeleydatastrategists.com.
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