Debt Worse Than Leprosy, Destroys Generations, Says Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo warned that debt is worse than leprosy, as it destroys generations rather than just one individual. The former leader questioned how Nigeria accumulated its debt and the impact of economic decisions over the years at the Ajibosin 3.0 Symposium. Obasanjo also raised concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI) potentially being another booby trap of the West against developing countries.

He argued that AI, like many Western ideas, has historically turned out to be a trap. Obasanjo cited examples such as the slave trade, colonialism, foreign direct investment, and globalization, all of which led to the exploitation of developing countries. He questioned why Nigeria's currency has depreciated so significantly over the past 47 years and what his country's leaders have or haven't done to improve the situation.

The former president urged his audience to ask themselves how AI can help solve grassroots problems and accelerate national development. He believed that AI should be used to identify the appropriate crops for Nigeria and improve healthcare delivery, among other things.