Nigeria has ranked among the top 15 Commonwealth countries for youth readiness to benefit from artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new study assessing the opportunities and challenges facing young people across the 56-member organisation.
The country placed 15th in the 2026 Commonwealth Youth AI Readiness Index, scoring 54.5 out of 100, slightly above the study’s readiness benchmark of 53.
The Ayre Think Tank developed the index and unveiled it on November 5, 2026, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. It examines the conditions shaping young people aged 15 to 29’s ability to benefit from artificial intelligence.
The study drew on 1,128 research sources covering approximately 732 million young people across Commonwealth countries. It identified 15 countries that met its AI readiness benchmark, while 41 fell below the threshold.
Nigeria was one of only three African Commonwealth countries to meet the benchmark, alongside Mauritius and South Africa.
The findings highlight strong interest in AI among young Nigerians. According to the report, 90 per cent of young Nigerian respondents expected to use AI for education or work within the following year, the highest proportion recorded in the index.
In addition, 67.8 per cent said they felt confident managing their interactions with AI. Nigeria scored 8.7 out of 10 in the index’s motivation and confidence category, reflecting strong interest among young people in adopting the technology.
The country also recorded a notable result in work-based learning. About 84 out of every 1,000 young Nigerians were involved in apprenticeships, internships or traineeships, the highest rate among the 31 Commonwealth countries with comparable data.
However, the report identified a significant gap between young people’s enthusiasm for AI and their measured digital capabilities.
Nigeria scored just 0.8 out of 10 in the digital, data, media and AI capability category. The study explained that this assessment relied largely on conventional computer skills indicators, such as installing software and writing computer programmes, rather than directly measuring young people’s ability to use AI tools.
It also highlighted widespread informal employment and the relatively low proportion of young adults working in high-skilled occupations as challenges that could limit the country’s ability to translate AI interest into better jobs and businesses.
Calvin Ayre, founder of the Ayre Think Tank, said young people needed practical skills and opportunities to benefit from technological changes.
“AI is going to change how we work, how we do business and how wealth is created,” Ayre said. “But this is not a race that only the biggest or richest countries can win. What matters is giving young people the skills and the chance to get ahead – whether to start businesses, find jobs or build something for themselves.”
The report also examined the potential economic benefits of AI adoption. Using scenarios developed by the International Monetary Fund, researchers estimated that AI could increase Nigeria’s gross domestic product by about $5.234 billion after 10 years under a moderate scenario.
The study placed the potential increase at $2.617 billion under a conservative scenario and $7.851 billion under an optimistic scenario. These figures are projections, not guaranteed economic gains.
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Nigeria has introduced several initiatives to strengthen digital and AI skills. They include the government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, AI Academy Nigeria, launched in partnership with Meta, and the National AI Innovation Challenge, which encourages local developers and institutions to develop AI applications.
The Ayre Index identifies five priority areas for improving youth AI readiness: affordable access to technology, practical education and skills development, stronger pathways from training into employment, AI tools adapted to local languages and needs, and safeguards that allow young people to question automated decisions.
The findings suggest that while Nigerian youths show considerable interest in artificial intelligence, expanding practical digital skills, improving access to technology and creating employment opportunities will be important to turning that interest into lasting economic benefits.
AI Writer
Bio: Joseph Michael is an MBA graduate in Marketing from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and a passionate tech enthusiast. As a professional writer and author at AIbase.ng, he simplifies complex AI concepts, explores digital innovation, and creates practical guides for Nigerian learners and businesses. With a background in marketing and brand communication, Joseph brings clarity, insight, and real-world relevance to every article he writes.