Tech experts urge creatives to embrace AI for career sustainability
A panel of technology and creative industry experts has cautioned Nigerian artists that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming their professions, urging them to move from fear to strategic adoption to ensure long-term career relevance. The call was made last Saturday during the 2025 Lagos Book and Art Festival at Freedom Park, Lagos Island, where discussions focused on how creatives can navigate the disruptions and opportunities brought by AI.
A statement from the organisation said the session, titled “Building a Sustainable Creative Career in the AI Era,” featured insights from leading innovators, including Habib Ajijola, product growth expert and founder of Growthverse; Babatope Oni, Co-Founder and CTO of Gigbanc; and Amanda Uzoagba, entertainment lawyer and Head of Licensing for Africa at Mdundo. The conversation was moderated by Femi Morgan, founder of Fairchild Media and former Permanent Member of The PUNCH Editorial Board.
Ajijola, whose professional journey bridges poetry and technology, delivered a blunt assessment: “AI is coming to take your job. That’s the mindset you need to work with,” he said, highlighting the speed at which the technology is evolving. He shared a personal experience where an AI system generated a project soundtrack in seconds—something that previously required months of work and significant funding. According to him, “This is the end of 90% of corporate jingles and gigs for musicians.”
The panelists jointly encouraged creatives to approach AI as a collaborative partner rather than a threat.
Oni advised artists to adopt AI as a “personal assistant” for repetitive tasks, enabling them to channel more energy into uniquely human creativity. He stressed:
“The people who will thrive are not those who fight the change, but those who learn to control it. Look for the advantage AI offers you and maximize it.”
He added that sitting in fear would only accelerate obsolescence:
“If you sit down and feel AI will take your job, it will. But if you learn to use it, you will be the one taking the jobs.”
Uzoagba addressed the legal dimensions, pointing out that copyright regulations are struggling to keep pace with technological change.
“An AI system shouldn’t train on materials without permission,” she insisted.
She also highlighted a competitive advantage for Nigerian creatives: AI cannot replicate cultural authenticity.
“AI can generate a script, but it cannot infuse it with the authentic soul of our culture,” she said, explaining that local nuances—from Lagos slang to village proverbs—are human attributes no machine can fully grasp. She described creatives as “cultural architects” whose value lies in their unique lived experiences.
Moderator Morgan emphasized that AI is not a future threat but a present-day reality that already shapes success in creative industries. He argued that technological competence is now a baseline requirement for scaling creative work. According to him,“Those who resist new waves of technological advancement pay a heavy price in their careers and lives.”
The session concluded with a resounding message: for Nigerian creatives, sustainability lies not in resisting AI but in strategically harnessing it to enhance their irreplaceable human artistry.
