Abuja: The European Union (EU) is partnering with Gallery of Code to strengthen the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in empowering Afro-European creatives and preserving cultural heritage. The Chief Executive Officer, Gallery of Code, Oscar Ekponimo, spoke at the ongoing AI+ARTS WEEK in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Gallery of Code is Africa’s first transdisciplinary design lab merging art, science, and technology to harness AI for artists, scientists, and technology experts. Ekponimo stated that the week-long symposium reflects a commitment to bridging arts, design, technology, and humanity, advancing research, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships with international institutions.
Ekponimo explained that the programme targets designers, artists, curators, writers, technologists, scientists, and cultural practitioners, focusing on rethinking Afro-European narratives while preserving heritage and ancestral knowledge. He emphasized the need to balance AI deployment, noting its benefits and risks, and highlighted concerns about responsible use of digital platforms in an era dominated by AI tools.
Speaking on ‘Art, AI and the Human Questions,’ NCAC Director-General Obi Asika revealed that Nigerian creators produce 10,000 to 15,000 original contents daily across 60 platforms, reaching more than 3 billion people annually. Asika stressed the importance of policies that ensure creators retain ownership, intellectual property, and value as artificial intelligence reshapes global content production.
Asika advocated for stronger domestic platforms for monetisation, education, and gigs, warning that technology operates on ‘garbage in, garbage out,’ demanding quality input and strategic implementation. He mentioned that AI could revitalise Nigeria’s 6,000 heritage sites through storytelling, digital reconstruction, and virtual experiences, enhancing tourism, mythology preservation, and national historical documentation. He cautioned that AI accelerates skilled individuals, not overnight success seekers, and reiterated that technology remains a tool that cannot replace genuine talent, education, or knowledge.
Ramona Van-Gansbeke of Gluon Brussels noted that AI+Arts Week fosters expertise sharing, local capacity building, and solutions addressing AI challenges both locally and globally. She highlighted the Afropean Intelligence project, which unites European institutions with Abuja’s Gallery of Code. Van-Gansbeke explained that through artistic residencies, the project critically examines AI while promoting Afro-European collaboration.