In the rapidly evolving global landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), nations around the world are striving to harness the transformative power of this technology-not only to accelerate economic growth but also to redefine societal progress. Africa, with its burgeoning demographic dividend and restless youth population, stands at a critical juncture in this race. Among African nations, Nigeria has emerged as a key contender, signaling ambition that stretches far beyond GDP metrics or startup counts, into the realms of national strategy, education reform, and inclusive innovation.
Global AI Context: Competition, Collaboration, and Opportunity
Artificial intelligence is now widely recognized as one of the defining technologies of the 21st century-comparable with the steam engine or the internet in its potential to reshape societies. Major global powers such as the United States, China, and the European Union have poured tens of billions of dollars into AI infrastructure, talent pipelines, and regulation, sparking what analysts call a global AI race. This “race” is not merely commercial; it canters on economic competitiveness, national security, and the ability to influence global norms for AI governance.
For nations in Africa, the challenge is two-fold: to adopt AI rapidly while ensuring that applications are equitable, contextually relevant, and capable of addressing local priorities such as healthcare, agriculture, and education.
Nigeria’s AI Adoption: A Confident National Embrace
Contrary to outdated perceptions of African hesitancy towards new technologies, recent research paints a striking picture of Nigeria’s enthusiastic adoption of AI tools. According to the 2025 Our Life with AI report by Ipsos and Google, 88% of Nigerian adults use AI-powered chatbots and other generative AI tools for learning, work and entrepreneurship-the highest rate globally among surveyed countries.
Another study showed Nigeria’s online population reporting an overall AI usage rate of 70%, well above the global average of 48%, reflecting a growing appetite for digital tools that can enhance productivity, access to information, and business creativity.
This surge is not merely anecdotal: Nigerians are actively using AI to solve real problems. 93% of users report relying on AI to understand complex topics-compared with a global average of 74%, and 91% believe that AI has positive effects on learning and access to information.
Policy, Preparedness and Strategic Initiatives
Nigeria’s government has recognized that this grassroots enthusiasm must be matched by state-level strategy and policy frameworks. In August 2024, the country launched its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), positioning itself as “West Africa’s AI hub and model for Africa’s economic growth.” This strategy was co-created with industry stakeholders, startups, and international experts, reflecting a collaborative approach to AI governance.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is central to this effort, championing initiatives such as the Nigeria Atlas for Languages & AI at Scale (N-ATLAS)-an open-source, multilingual large language model (LLM) designed to digitise and preserve Nigeria’s rich linguistic diversity, thereby underpinning future AI services that speak directly to citizens in local languages
Beyond policy frameworks, federal and private partnerships are actively building the skills pipeline. For example, Microsoft, Visa, UNICEF and Data Science Nigeria partnered on Microsoft AI Skills Week in Lagos, which drew 235,000 participants and resulted in over 1,700 AI certifications. Such efforts help cultivate the digital talent needed to compete and innovate locally and globally.
Human Capacity Building: The Key to Sustainable Leadership
Nigeria’s demographic advantage-with over 200 million people and a median age of around 18-provides a unique platform for AI leadership. Realising this potential, government programmes like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative aim to equip millions with digital skills, including data science, machine learning, and algorithmic thinking.
Experts emphasise that technical education must be matched by ethical and critical thinking skills. “Nigeria’s collaborative model could inspire ECOWAS neighbours to harmonise AI regulations,” noted officials, underscoring the importance of governance that is both responsible and inclusive.
Innovative Use Cases: From Healthcare to Financial Services
AI’s promise for societal transformation is visible across multiple sectors:
- Healthcare: AI-driven tools are beginning to support diagnostics and treatment planning, with pilot projects exploring predictive analysis to optimise service delivery.
- Education: Beyond chatbots for learning, AI is being integrated into curriculum design and personalised tutoring systems, helping students master complex subjects.
- Financial Services: Nigerian fintech firms are using conversational AI to streamline digital banking services, improve risk assessment, and enhance fraud detection.
- Entrepreneurship: Around 80% of Nigerian users leverage AI tools to explore new business ideas and career opportunities-nearly double the global average.
Challenges on the Path to AI Leadership
No journey to technological leadership is without obstacles. Nigeria’s infrastructure gaps-from electricity instability to limited data centres and broadband penetration-constrain its ability to train and deploy cutting-edge AI models domestically. According to a recent assessment, Nigeria accounts for less than 1% of global AI compute capacity, forcing continued reliance on international cloud providers.
Funding remains a central concern. Despite strong implementation and vibrant private sector activity, reports suggest that dedicated domestic AI funding is inadequate, and Nigeria’s strategy relies heavily on external partners.
Regional and Continental Leadership
Nigeria’s AI ambition is not insular. Across Africa, leaders have recognized AI as a strategic priority. The African Union has called for increased investment, inclusive governance, and broader access to AI technologies, while noting that African nations currently house only 3% of the global AI talent pool.
Countries like South Africa and Kenya are also advancing rapidly, with robust AI ecosystems and infrastructure development. Yet Nigeria’s strong policy progress, startup ecosystem and adoption rates position it among the continent’s most promising engines of innovation.
What Nigeria Must Do Next
For Nigeria to sustain and deepen its leadership in the global AI race, several priorities must be pursued:
- Invest in AI Infrastructure: Building data canters and compute capacity will reduce dependence on foreign cloud services.
- Strengthen Education and Research: Partnerships with universities and research institutions will ensure that AI talent is nurtured locally and ethically.
- Expand Inclusive AI Policy: Regulation must protect privacy and human rights while fostering innovation.
- Encourage Local AI Innovation: Supporting homegrown startups and indigenous models will accentuate local relevance and global competitiveness.
Rounding off with A Strategic Future in AI:
Nigeria’s journey in the AI space reflects a blend of grassroots adoption, forward-looking policy, and ambitious national vision. With an engaged citizenry, expanding skill base, and strategic investments, the country is poised to become not merely a consumer of AI technologies, but an active architect of solutions that reflect African realities and priorities. In the global AI race, Nigeria stands not at the starting line, but firmly in the contest-shaping its narrative and influencing how the benefits of AI can be realized for its people and for the wider continent.
Senior Reporter/Editor
Bio: Ugochukwu is a freelance journalist and Editor at AIbase.ng, with a strong professional focus on investigative reporting. He holds a degree in Mass Communication and brings extensive experience in news gathering, reporting, and editorial writing. With over a decade of active engagement across diverse news sources, he contributes in-depth analytical, practical, and expository articles that explore artificial intelligence and its real-world impact. His seasoned newsroom experience and well-established information networks provide AIbase.ng with credible, timely, and high-quality coverage of emerging AI developments.