The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has urged businesses embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to place equal emphasis on workplace protection and employee welfare, warning that technological advancement alone will not guarantee long-term business resilience.
Speaking at the launch of the ESBC–InnoPower LLC (USA) Free MSMEs AI Master Training Programme at the United Nations House in Abuja, NSITF Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Oluwaseun Faleye said digital transformation and social protection must evolve together as businesses adapt to the changing economic landscape.
The initiative, organised by the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition in partnership with InnoPower LLC (USA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to equip micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across West Africa with artificial intelligence skills needed to compete in an increasingly digital economy.
AI Should Strengthen, Not Replace, Worker Protection
Addressing government officials, development partners and business leaders, Faleye stressed that successful digital transformation depends on safeguarding the workforce alongside technological investment.
He argued that businesses adopting AI without strengthening employee welfare, occupational safety and social security risk undermining their long-term sustainability.
According to him, technology enables organisations to improve efficiency and productivity, while social protection provides workers with the confidence and security needed to contribute effectively to business growth.
“As enterprises become more digitally driven, workplace safety and employee protection must remain central to their transformation strategies,” he said.
MSMEs Remain Nigeria’s Economic Backbone
Faleye highlighted the critical role played by MSMEs in Nigeria’s economy, citing data from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that the sector accounts for about 96 per cent of businesses nationwide.
He noted that the country’s small businesses employ millions of Nigerians and support household incomes across communities, making their resilience essential to sustainable economic development.
According to the NSITF chief, initiatives that improve digital capabilities among entrepreneurs represent strategic investments in the future competitiveness of both Nigeria and the wider ECOWAS region.
Expanding Businesses Need Stronger Social Protection Systems
Faleye said growing digital enterprises would increasingly require responsive occupational safety frameworks, workplace protection mechanisms and social security systems capable of supporting a modern workforce.
He reaffirmed NSITF’s commitment to working with businesses and development partners to strengthen awareness, improve service delivery and expand workplace protection as enterprises scale their operations.
The agency, he said, intends to deepen collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders to ensure that technological innovation is matched by stronger employee safeguards.
Call for Responsible Innovation
Commending the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition, InnoPower LLC and UNDP for promoting digital skills development, Faleye encouraged participating entrepreneurs to embrace continuous learning while recognising that people remain their most valuable asset.
He said the businesses that will shape Africa’s future will be those that combine technological innovation with responsible leadership, resilient business practices and sustained investment in employee wellbeing.
Industry observers note that as AI adoption accelerates across financial services and other sectors, integrating workplace protection into digital transformation strategies is expected to become an increasingly important component of enterprise risk management and long-term business sustainability.
