The average Nigerian Creative stays a major driving force of the Nigerian Digital Economy, yet, ironically remains a victim of a system seemingly built to milk raw talents dry within both the private and public sectors, respectively. A system designed for MORE work, LESS pay.

It’s a world where pain, intellectual theft and various injustices even in the digital workspaces have fast become normalized— especially with an economy that leaves one with very minimal choices to fight back and demand for more.

With the advent of AI introduced into this same system, where power supply, strong internet connections and the very basics of technology are still “prayer points” to citizens, it begs the question – how ready are we as a country to explore this world of AI without taking along the old baggages of corruption into this new world?

In all, the average Nigerian Creative remains one of the most vulnerable members of the society at the receiving end of unregulated policies, unstable technological metrics, unpredictable algorithms and other various inequalities further broadening the socio-economic, knowledge and digital divides.

Recently at Hello ICON Magazine, we interviewed some members of our Creative Community, top Content Creators, Influencers and other major stakeholders within the Nigerian Creative economy and one thing stayed glaring— the lack of knowledge and even proper policy enforcements on multiple human rights, specifically within the Digital Economy, resulting to an industry where ignorance, poverty and silence have been weaponized with pain and diverse injustices, normalized.

“Nobody talks about these things.
Usually hush hush, and a lot of people just take things like that because otherwise there would be nothing to do.
You exposing this, I can’t even tell you how refreshing it is and how audacious you are. Thank you for all that you do, Eden.
This a lot of good work you are doing, really.
Kudos to the Hello ICON Magazine Team.”
– Isioma Onyenakwe

While these words are reenergizing to the work that we do at Hello ICON Magazine, on the other hand, it serves as a wakeup call to the media and all major stakeholders on the need to further dig into the underreported stories of the digital economy, governmental policies and emerging technologies beyond the surface levels.

In breaking the unconscious culture of ignorance, the Hello ICON Team will engage a two-dimensional holistic approach in producing written and video documentaries for a proper sensitization on AI beyond narrow lenses and technological jargons.
A qualitative methodology designed for meaningful conversations is currently ongoing with major stakeholders including AI experts, Social Media Influencers and Government Officials in Nigeria.
This sensitization is integral as people cannot ask the right questions and demand for accountability on an adoption or overall concept they do not understand.

The next on our 𝗔𝗜 in Nigeria Series will uncover the real stories of five Creatives with experiences most relatable to the average Nigerian Digital Creative Entrepreneurs, Digital Enthusiasts and Content Creators in entirety.