Artificial intelligence governance researcher Chinasa T. Okolo has been selected as a 2026 Africa Fellow at the World Bank Group, joining a competitive programme that brings African scholars into the institution to contribute to global development research and policy work.
The World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program places selected scholars within the Bank’s research and policy units, where they collaborate with economists and development specialists on studies that inform global development policy.
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According to reports about the appointment, Okolo is working with the World Bank’s Development Economics Research Group, particularly within the Poverty, Inequality, and Human Development unit, contributing research related to socioeconomic development and emerging technologies.
A Rising Voice in AI Governance
Okolo is a Nigerian computer scientist whose work focuses on artificial intelligence governance, technology policy, and the societal impact of AI systems in the Global South.
She completed her PhD in computer science at Cornell University in 2023, where her research examined issues around AI explainability and how artificial intelligence systems are understood and used in communities in developing regions.
Her research has explored how artificial intelligence tools interact with public institutions and frontline workers in developing countries, an area that has become increasingly important as governments adopt digital technologies in public services.
Contributions to Global AI Policy
Beyond academia, Okolo has contributed to several international policy initiatives focused on the governance of artificial intelligence.
Her work has supported policy conversations connected to the African Union’s AI Continental Strategy, as well as Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
Before her selection as a World Bank Africa Fellow, Okolo also served as a Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Technology Innovation, where her research examined data governance and the socioeconomic effects of data work in developing regions.
Global Recognition
Okolo’s contributions to AI governance have earned international recognition. In 2024, she was named to the TIME100 list of the most influential people in artificial intelligence, compiled by TIME, which highlighted her work advocating for policies that ensure artificial intelligence systems benefit communities in the Global South while reducing risks such as bias and digital inequality.
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She has also been recognised in the Forbes “30 Under 30” list in the artificial intelligence category, reflecting her growing influence in global conversations about responsible technology governance.
Technology and Development Policy
Okolo’s fellowship at the World Bank comes at a time when international development institutions are increasingly examining the role of artificial intelligence in economic and social development.
Artificial intelligence is being explored for applications ranging from agricultural forecasting and healthcare systems to public service delivery, but experts say these technologies must be governed carefully to avoid reinforcing existing inequalities.
Through the Africa Fellowship, Okolo joins a network of African scholars contributing research that helps shape global development policy while ensuring that perspectives from the Global South remain central to debates about emerging technologies.
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