Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into AI Development in Nigeria: A West African Perspective

Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in Nigeria have been recognised for their traditional wisdom and practices that can inform sustainable development strategies. A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews with expert panels and quantitative data analysis focusing on socio-economic impact studies. The integration process revealed that incorporating traditional ecological knowledge significantly improved AI model accuracy by 15% in predicting climate change impacts, demonstrating a key contribution to the field of computer science. This study highlights the potential synergies between IKS and AI for sustainable development, with specific emphasis on Nigeria’s unique socio-cultural context. Policy makers should prioritise funding and research into hybrid AI systems that incorporate local knowledge, alongside promoting cultural preservation initiatives. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.