Demystifying the Power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding in Nigeria

Oluwasegun Ogunsakin; Samuel Seyilola  Olawale; Temitope Elijah Akinola

Oluwasegun Ogunsakin Department of Peace and Security, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Samuel Seyilola Olawale Department of Political Science, Tai-Solarin Federal University of Education, Ijagun, Nigeria.
Temitope Elijah Akinola Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Keywords: AI, machine learning, conflict prevention, peace building, Nigeria

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly positioned as a strategic resource in contemporary conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts, yet its deployment within Nigeria's volatile security landscape remains nascent and undertheorised. This study investigates the role of AI in Nigeria's conflict prevention and peacebuilding programming, with particular attention to its connection to existing conflict dynamics, its operational benefits, the barriers to its adoption, and the infrastructural requirements for its effective deployment. A quantitative survey design was employed, with structured questionnaires administered to 46 participants drawn from academic, governmental, non-governmental, and community sectors across Nigeria. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics to identify patterns in stakeholder perceptions and experiences. Findings indicate that although AI literacy is relatively high among respondents, practical integration of AI into peacebuilding programming remains significantly limited. AI demonstrates measurable potential across early warning systems, hate speech detection, and evidence-based conflict analysis. Critically, the study finds that AI's impact is governance-dependent: responsibly deployed within rights-respecting and data-governed frameworks, AI strengthens de-escalation and preventive capacities; where governance is weak or absent, it risks reinforcing surveillance overreach, disinformation, and communal polarisation. The study concludes that unlocking AI's full peacebuilding potential in Nigeria demands coordinated investment in digital infrastructure, context-sensitive and multilingual AI tools, and a robust legal-ethical governance architecture anchored in Nigeria's Data Protection Act 2023.