Nigeria is intensifying its push for a coordinated continental framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI), urging African countries to align policies, infrastructure, and governance systems to secure the continent’s digital future.
Speaking at continental digital economy and AI governance forums across Africa, Nigerian officials urged member states to adopt a unified framework for developing artificial intelligence.
A key concern raised is that inconsistent regulations and siloed data frameworks could limit innovation and weaken Africa’s competitiveness in emerging AI-driven industries. Nigeria argues that stronger regional collaboration, particularly around cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data governance, is essential to building a resilient digital economy.
The call also emphasises the need for Africa to strengthen digital sovereignty while still enabling cross-border data flows that support trade, innovation, and AI development across the continent.
Officials further link the proposal to broader continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), arguing that seamless data exchange will be as critical to Africa’s economic integration as the movement of goods and services.
Nigeria’s position reflects its broader ambition to play a leadership role in Africa’s AI transformation, including efforts to develop national AI strategy frameworks, expand digital infrastructure, and promote responsible AI governance models aligned with global standards.
Frankly speaking, Nigeria’s message is clear: Africa’s AI future will depend not just on adoption, but on coordination, shared rules, and collective digital capacity-building across the continent.
Senior AI Writer
Bio: Okikiola is a writer and AI enthusiast with a background in Office Technology and Management from the Federal Polytechnic Offa. She went further to study an MSc in International Business at De Montfort University (DMU). With extensive work experience across administrative and business roles, she now focuses on exploring how artificial intelligence can transform work, innovation, and everyday life.