AI Essential for Accountability in Nigerian Universities, Says EFCC Chairman

The fight against corruption and the pursuit of good governance in Nigeria's tertiary institutions have taken a significant technological turn. Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has strongly urged Nigerian universities to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a critical tool for bolstering transparency, accountability, and overall governance. Speaking at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN) in Kano, Olukoyede emphasized that AI is no longer a luxury but a necessity for modern university administration.

Olukoyede pointed out the pervasive issues of financial mismanagement within universities, citing examples like contract inflation, ghost workers on payrolls, and the diversion of funds. He explained that the predominantly manual financial systems in these institutions make them highly susceptible to fraud and weak internal controls. The EFCC chairman detailed how AI could revolutionize these processes by enabling real-time transaction monitoring for fraud detection, automating audit procedures, and ensuring payroll integrity. Furthermore, AI can strengthen procurement by flagging overpricing and ensuring legal compliance, while also promoting academic integrity through plagiarism detection.

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The EFCC has investigated cases involving inflated contracts, ghost workers and diverted student fees in tertiary institutions across the country.

The EFCC chairman backed his claims with concrete examples of AI's effectiveness. He recalled an investigation where a university was found to be paying salaries far exceeding its actual staff count due to systemic fraud, a practice AI tools could help curtail. More strikingly, he highlighted a major EFCC operation in December 2024, where AI was instrumental in analyzing data and concluding investigations into a transnational cybercrime syndicate within a month, leading to the arrest of 729 suspects and the recovery of significant assets. This demonstrates AI's power in expediting complex investigations and securing convictions.

Ultimately, Olukoyede's call for AI adoption is a call for modernization and a proactive approach to safeguarding public funds and academic integrity. By reducing reliance on manual processes and enhancing data-driven decision-making, universities can significantly improve efficiency and foster an environment less prone to corruption. Compliance with existing laws, such as the National Data Protection Act, remains paramount as these technologies are integrated.

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The EFCC boss added that AI could also strengthen procurement processes by flagging overpricing and ensuring compliance with existing laws, and promote academic integrity through plagiarism detection and real-time governance monitoring.