Nigeria’s action against Meta shows giants can be sanctioned, says Luminate
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Businessday
The Nigerian authorities’ action against Meta shows that major technology companies can be held accountable by national institutions, says Luminate chief executive Melanie Hui. Speaking at the Build 2026 conference in Abuja, she also cited the move as a sign that African regulators can influence the digital economy, reports Businessday.
The Nigerian authorities’ action against Meta shows that global technology companies can be held accountable by national institutions, said Melanie Hui, chief executive of Luminate, at the Build 2026 conference in Abuja, reports Businessday. She cited measures by Nigeria’s competition authority against Meta, which is accused of data exploitation and discriminatory practices, as an example of African regulators’ ability to challenge the power of major platforms.
In her speech on Africa’s place in the global artificial intelligence order, Melanie Hui also mentioned Nigerian app-based drivers who secured government recognition for Africa’s first union in the app-based transport sector. She cited technologies developed by Nigerian innovators to improve access to banking services in rural areas and reduce agricultural losses.
A study commissioned by Luminate on artificial intelligence in Africa in 2026 highlights both inequalities and signs of innovation and leadership, according to Hui. She argued that African countries should not be confined to supplying data, labour or raw materials to companies developing AI elsewhere.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
