Nigerian businesses must move beyond simply experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) and begin integrating the technology into everyday operations if they are to unlock its full economic potential, according to Zaliha Gambo Yunusa, founder of Queen Tech Innovative Business Solutions.
In an exclusive interview with AIBase reporter Ahmad Ibrahim, Yunusa said AI is increasingly becoming relevant to Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but many businesses still lack the knowledge, strategy and digital foundations required to adopt it effectively.
Queen Tech Innovative Business Solutions is focused on helping businesses bridge what Yunusa describes as the gap between technology and practical business growth.
“Many SMEs know that digital technology and AI are becoming increasingly important, but they often struggle to understand which solutions are relevant to their business or how to implement them effectively,” she said.
The company provides AI solutions, workflow automation, digital-skills training, capacity building, mentorship, technology projects and other business support services aimed at improving productivity and helping organisations grow sustainably.
“Our approach is not simply about introducing businesses to the latest technology,” Yunusa said. “We focus on understanding the problem first and then identifying practical technology solutions that can create real value for the business.”
Nigerian SMEs are already using AI, but adoption is evolving
According to Yunusa, Nigerian SMEs are already applying AI across a range of business activities, particularly content creation, marketing, research, customer communication, administration, data analysis and productivity.
She said interest in automation is also increasing, particularly where businesses have repetitive processes such as responding to frequently asked questions, scheduling, follow-ups, order updates and basic customer support.
“AI can allow a small team to handle more work without necessarily increasing its operational burden,” she said.
Yunusa explained that automation can take care of repetitive interactions while employees concentrate on areas that require human judgement, creativity and empathy.
However, she believes businesses should not limit their understanding of AI to content generation.
“The real opportunity is beyond simply using AI to generate content,” she said. “SMEs need to begin thinking about how AI can become part of their business processes and help them work more efficiently.”
She added that Queen Tech’s recent work and public education efforts have increasingly focused on this practical dimension of AI adoption.
AI is not just for large corporations
One of the most persistent misconceptions among Nigerian entrepreneurs, Yunusa said, is that AI is exclusively the preserve of large corporations, technology companies or people with advanced technical skills.
“Some entrepreneurs also assume that adopting AI requires expensive systems or a complete restructuring of their businesses,” she said.
In practice, she said, many businesses can start with accessible tools designed to address specific challenges in areas such as marketing, administration, research, customer service, productivity and operations.
Yunusa also challenged the perception that AI’s primary purpose is to replace workers.
“I see AI more as a tool that can augment human capabilities,” she said.
“The businesses that will benefit most are those that combine technology with human judgement, creativity, experience, and understanding of their customers.”
For entrepreneurs considering AI adoption, Yunusa believes the starting point should not be the technology itself.
“AI should not be adopted simply because it is trending,” she said. “The starting point should always be: What problem are we trying to solve, and can AI help us solve it better?”
Growing demand for AI skills and practical training
Through Queen Tech and her wider work as a business and AI trainer, digital-skills facilitator and mentor, Yunusa said she has supported individuals, entrepreneurs, professionals, young people and organisations through training, mentorship and technology-focused programmes.
She has also mentored people internationally through platforms such as ADPList.
More significantly, she said, the nature of demand has changed.
“Conversations that were previously focused mainly on basic digital skills are increasingly moving towards questions about AI adoption, automation, productivity, data, and how technology can be integrated into actual businesses,” Yunusa said.
“That growing demand is one of the reasons we continue to focus on practical AI education and business technology solutions.”
Why many SMEs are still struggling to adopt AI
Yunusa identified several barriers preventing wider AI adoption among Nigerian SMEs, beginning with awareness.
Many business owners, she said, have heard about AI but do not yet understand how it can specifically benefit their businesses.
Other challenges include affordability, digital skills, infrastructure, internet access and access to reliable technology.
There are also concerns around privacy, cybersecurity, accuracy and the reliability of AI-generated information.
Another major challenge, she said, is the lack of a clear digital strategy.
“Businesses sometimes adopt different tools because they are popular without first identifying the specific problem they are trying to solve,” Yunusa said. “This can result in wasted resources and confusion.”
She added that some businesses are still struggling with fundamental digital capabilities, including online visibility, data management, automation and maintaining a consistent digital strategy.
“These are areas Queen Tech seeks to help businesses address before and alongside more advanced AI adoption,” she said.
AI will transform tasks before it replaces professions
Yunusa believes the impact of AI on employment should be considered in terms of tasks rather than simply entire occupations.
“I think it is important to distinguish between jobs and tasks,” she said.
She expects AI to have its greatest immediate impact on repetitive, predictable and highly administrative tasks, including certain forms of data processing, basic customer support, content production and routine administrative work.
However, she does not believe the future of work will simply be defined by AI replacing entire professions.
“In many cases, AI will transform how people work,” she said.
Professionals working in law, marketing, education, finance, administration, design and research, for example, are likely to use AI to perform certain tasks while devoting more time to strategy, judgement, creativity, communication and complex problem-solving.
For workers, Yunusa said the critical question is therefore not simply whether AI will replace their jobs, but whether they are developing the skills required to work effectively alongside the technology.
Young Nigerians need AI literacy — not necessarily AI engineering skills
For young Nigerians, Yunusa recommends developing a broad combination of AI literacy, digital skills, critical thinking, communication, creativity, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and adaptability.
“They do not all need to become AI engineers,” she said.
“But they should understand what AI can do, its limitations, how to use it responsibly, and how to apply it to real-world problems.”
She placed particular emphasis on communication and critical thinking.
“AI can provide information quickly, but people still need the ability to question that information, make decisions, understand people, communicate ideas, and solve problems,” she said.
She also urged young people to become comfortable with continuous learning as technology evolves.
“The ability to learn, adapt, and acquire new skills may become more valuable than mastering one particular tool,” Yunusa said.
Businesses must take digital rights seriously
As more businesses incorporate AI into their operations, Yunusa warned that technology adoption must be accompanied by greater attention to digital rights and responsible use.
She identified data privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, misinformation, bias and accountability as key areas of concern.
Businesses may handle customer information, financial records, internal documents and other sensitive data, she noted. As a result, they need to understand what information they are entering into AI systems and how those platforms handle it.
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“AI can produce convincing but incorrect information,” Yunusa said, stressing the importance of human oversight when AI is used for significant business, financial, legal or customer-related decisions.
“Responsible AI adoption therefore requires more than simply knowing how to use a tool,” she said.
Businesses, she argued, must also understand privacy, security, data governance, transparency and their responsibilities towards customers and employees.
Queen Tech targets practical AI adoption
Looking ahead, Yunusa said Queen Tech’s focus is increasingly shifting from AI awareness to practical implementation.
“At Queen Tech, our focus is increasingly on moving businesses beyond AI awareness towards practical adoption,” she said.
The company is interested in initiatives covering AI capacity building, business automation, digital transformation, digital-skills development and technology-enabled entrepreneurship.
Its broader ambition, according to Yunusa, is to help create an ecosystem in which African entrepreneurs are not merely consumers of technology but are equipped to use it to solve local problems, improve their businesses and create new opportunities.
“We are particularly interested in partnerships that can expand access to practical technology education and help SMEs develop the skills and systems required to participate meaningfully in the AI economy,” she said.
AI could become part of everyday Nigerian business
Yunusa’s biggest prediction for the next five years is that AI will move from being an optional productivity tool to an important component of everyday business operations.
She expects more Nigerian businesses to use AI for customer service, marketing, administration, data analysis, decision-making and workflow automation.
She also anticipates more entrepreneurs building businesses around AI-enabled services and solutions.
But she cautioned against measuring success by the amount of AI a company uses.
“I don’t think the businesses that use the most AI will necessarily be the biggest winners,” Yunusa said.
“The businesses that understand their customers, identify the right problems, invest in their people, and use technology strategically and responsibly will have the strongest advantage.”
For Nigeria, she sees AI as an opportunity to improve productivity, create new businesses, develop young talent and build solutions for challenges within local communities.
Her ambition extends beyond domestic adoption.
“My hope is that Nigeria will not only become a major market for AI products developed elsewhere, but also a place where African talent builds, adapts, and exports AI-enabled solutions to the rest of the world,” Yunusa said.
As Nigerian SMEs navigate a rapidly changing technological landscape, Yunusa’s message is clear: AI adoption should not be driven by hype. Businesses need to identify genuine problems, build the right digital foundations, develop their people and deploy technology where it can deliver measurable value.
For Queen Tech, the next stage of Nigeria’s AI journey is therefore not simply about awareness — it is about turning knowledge into practical business transformation.
