Nigeria has been ranked 72nd globally in the 2025 Government AI Readiness Index, a comprehensive assessment released by Oxford Insights that measures how prepared governments are to adopt, deploy, and benefit from artificial intelligence technologies.
The annual index evaluates nearly 200 countries across multiple indicators, including policy and governance, digital infrastructure, data availability, skills development, and public sector adoption of AI. Nigeria’s placement reflects steady progress in AI-related policy and institutional capacity, while also highlighting persistent gaps in infrastructure and large-scale implementation.
According to the ranking, Nigeria remains one of the stronger performers in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranking among the region’s leading countries in government preparedness for artificial intelligence. The index underscores Nigeria’s growing policy engagement around AI, particularly in areas linked to national digital strategies and regulatory awareness.
Oxford Insights noted that countries showing improvement in the 2025 edition are those that have prioritised clear AI governance frameworks, cross-sector collaboration, and skills development, even amid broader economic or infrastructure challenges. Nigeria’s rise in the index aligns with recent efforts to strengthen digital transformation policies and expand AI-focused capacity building.
The Government AI Readiness Index, produced by Oxford Insights, is widely regarded as a global benchmark for assessing how effectively governments can harness AI to improve public services, economic competitiveness, and social outcomes. It examines readiness through six key pillars: vision, governance, data and infrastructure, skills, innovation ecosystem, and public sector maturity.
While Nigeria’s ranking places it behind global AI leaders such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and several East Asian economies, analysts say the country’s performance indicates meaningful momentum, particularly when compared with peers at similar stages of digital development.
However, the report also points to critical areas requiring sustained investment, including reliable digital infrastructure, public sector AI deployment, and nationwide AI talent development, if Nigeria is to climb further in future rankings.
As artificial intelligence continues to shape governance, security, healthcare, education, and economic productivity worldwide, Nigeria’s position in the Oxford Insights AI Readiness Index serves both as a marker of progress and a reminder of the work ahead.
The full 2025 Government AI Readiness Index and methodology are published by Oxford Insights.
Oxford Insights Ranks Nigeria 72nd Globally in AI Readiness 2025
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.