AI is Not More Intelligent Than Humans; We Solve Problems, AI Only Helps Us Do It Better — Salam Lawal
Salam Lawal, a UK-based Nigerian tech expert with a formidable background in web development, search engine optimisation (SEO), and software automation, brings a unique perspective to the global conversation on artificial intelligence. As the founder of the award-winning platform Imaiger, and having collaborated with international firms like OGAds, Lawal argues that the true power of technology lies in its ability to augment, not replace, human ingenuity.
From Resource Management to Tech Innovation: An Unconventional Journey
What led someone with a degree in Resource Management into the core of the technology sector? Lawal’s path was anything but straightforward. “My journey into resource management wasn’t linear,” he explains. Initially starting in agriculture, he had to pivot due to challenges. However, his passion for technology had already taken root before graduation. His national service, teaching computer science, solidified his direction, setting him on a course as a self-taught developer building his own projects.
He emphasizes that it was never a question of job availability in his field of study. “I had already tailored my career toward tech before I even entered the job market,” he states.
Forging a Self-Taught Path and a Global Vision
Lawal’s tech skills were honed through curiosity and relentless practice. “After graduating, I taught computer science to children, then moved into digital marketing,” he recounts. It was during this period he realized that to build something substantial, he needed deeper technical knowledge. He turned to YouTube, teaching himself HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and NodeJS by building “project after project until the skills stuck.”
This journey fundamentally shaped his worldview. “Technology is driving society forward, and I’m grateful to contribute to that advancement in my own way,” he reflects.
His relocation to the UK two years ago was a strategic move to access the global tech ecosystem more directly. “Nigeria was instrumental in my growth,” he affirms, “but at this stage in my career, the move made sense.” The decision has been transformative, leading to conference invitations, connections with tech leaders, and contributions to e-learning platforms for major corporations like Colgate and DHL.
Imaiger: Democratizing Visual Content Creation
Lawal’s primary venture, Imaiger, was born from a clear market need. “When Stable Diffusion launched in August 2022, I saw an opportunity,” he says. While people were generating AI images, there was no easy way to search or discover them. Imaiger began as a central database and evolved into a focused platform serving creators, founders, and marketers who need AI images for content marketing.
Specializing in front-end development with JavaScript, TypeScript, React, and Next.js, Lawal has steered Imaiger to significant recognition, including winning the Best AI-Powered Visual Content Platform award at the 2025 UK Midlands Enterprise Awards and acceptance into the Microsoft for Startups and Paddle AI Launchpad programs.
Solving Real Problems: The Tangible Impact of Tech
For Lawal, technology is about building pragmatic solutions. Imaiger addresses the democratization of content creation. “Before AI image generation became accessible, creating visual content required expensive software, design skills, or hiring professionals,” he notes. This created a significant barrier, especially for creators in emerging markets.
“Imaiger solves this by making AI-generated images accessible,” he explains. “It augments human capabilities, making the creative process faster, more efficient, and accessible to a wider range of people.” Beyond Imaiger, he has built tools like Daily Followers, a social media management platform for TikTok, demonstrating a consistent focus on transforming workflows to be more dynamic and inclusive.
Bridging the Gap for Nigerian Talent
Looking at his home country, Lawal identifies two pressing issues his expertise could address. First is the gap between Nigerian talent and global opportunities. “I would create a platform connecting Nigerian developers with international firms, allowing them to earn in foreign currency,” he proposes, highlighting the potential boost to the national economy.
Second is the urgent need for AI education. “As AI reshapes industries, Nigerians need proper training to compete globally,” he argues. His solution would be a learning platform where people can explore AI topics with structured roadmaps.
His advice to the Federal Government is straightforward: create more investment opportunities and foster collaboration. “Organising workshops and hackathons brings talent together to collaborate and build,” he says. “These gatherings create ecosystems where innovation thrives, and that is how you grow a sustainable tech sector.”
AI: A Tool, Not a Replacement for Human Intelligence
Addressing fears that technology is making us lazy and threatening jobs, Lawal adopts a balanced perspective. “Technology has always evolved, from the internet era to now, and we evolve with it,” he observes. While acknowledging the threats, he insists the opportunities far outweigh them. “Every new technology creates space to innovate and build new markets.”
But on the pivotal question of whether AI is more intelligent than humans, his stance is unequivocal. “Humans solve problems, and AI helps us do it better,” Lawal asserts. “I do not see AI as more intelligent than people. It learns from human-created data and is great at speed and scale, but it still needs our context, judgment, and values.”
In his own work, AI’s role is to remove repetitive tasks, freeing him to focus on creativity, product decisions, and ethics. He sees a direct lineage with the past: “The geniuses of pre-tech eras solved problems with the tools they had. Today, we have AI as a tool, and that allows us to tackle bigger, more complex challenges.”
Championing Homegrown Solutions and Mentoring the Next Generation
Lawal expresses a poignant concern about Nigeria’s status as a major consumer of foreign technology. “We have brilliant minds in Nigeria, but we are not focusing enough on homegrown software,” he laments. The solution, in his view, lies in creating more awareness and support for local software. “If the government and stakeholders champion Nigerian-built solutions, we will naturally shift toward consuming our own products.”
This belief in local potential drives his mentorship work, such as his recent involvement with the Skill-Up Tech Camp by A New Thing International Foundation in partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Mentoring the frontend development track, he guided participants through real-world projects. “Watching these young minds grow from beginners to confident builders was incredibly rewarding,” he shares. “Many have gone on to launch their own projects or secure tech roles.”
Looking Ahead: Challenges and a Five-Year Vision
The biggest challenge at Imaiger, he reveals, is access to talent. “Building a startup in the rapidly evolving AI field requires bringing together diverse skills, and finding the right people is not easy.” He manages this by leveraging his own multifaceted background in both technical and marketing domains.
In five years, Lawal envisions Imaiger as a recognised platform dominating the generative AI image space for content creation globally. He also sees himself continuing to build solutions for real-world problems while mentoring the next generation of African tech talent.
His final advice for Nigerian creatives and entrepreneurs is twofold: Think globally from day one, and network intentionally. Reflecting on his own early mistake of being “heads-down building” without enough connection, he urges, “Build your network as aggressively as you build your product. The relationships you build will open doors and create opportunities you cannot imagine yet.”
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