The Doctrine of Creation and Artificial Intelligence: A Nigerian Theological Contribution to Global Tech Ethics

This doctoral study develops an original Nigerian theological contribution to the global ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), grounded in the Christian doctrine of creation and drawing on African philosophical resources for understanding the nature of personhood, creativity, and responsible technological agency. The rapid deployment of AI systems in Nigerian healthcare, governance, education, and financial services raises urgent theological and ethical questions that remain largely unaddressed by Nigerian theological scholarship. Drawing on doctrines of creation, imago Dei, and stewardship, alongside African communal ethics, philosophy of technology, and emerging AI ethics frameworks, the study employs a constructive theology methodology combined with empirical analysis. Data are gathered from thirty interviews with Nigerian AI practitioners, theologians, ethicists, and policymakers, supplemented by critical analysis of major AI ethics frameworks and their theological assumptions. The study critically evaluates the adequacy of existing AI ethics frameworks (autonomy-centred, utilitarian, and rights-based models) from a theological perspective and identifies the distinctive contributions of African theological anthropology, including communal dignity, technological stewardship, and the primacy of relational flourishing. An original Nigerian theology of AI is proposed as a contribution to both Nigerian public theology and the global AI ethics conversation. The study fills a significant gap in the intersection of African theology and philosophy of technology. Keywords: creation theology, artificial intelligence, AI ethics, Nigerian theology, imago Dei