The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has identified Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) economies, citing the country’s progress in developing policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening its digital and innovation ecosystem.
Reacting to the assessment, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, described the recognition as an encouraging indication of Nigeria’s efforts to prepare for opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.
According to the minister, the IMF’s assessment follows Nigeria’s performance in the Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI) and the Oxford Government AI Readiness Index, which also measured the country’s progress in AI governance and preparedness.
He noted, however, that the IMF report emphasised the need for sustained investment in electricity, broadband infrastructure and digital skills to unlock the full potential of AI across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tijani said the federal government has introduced several initiatives over the past two years to strengthen Nigeria’s AI ecosystem. These include the National AI Strategy, the National AI Trust, the AI Collective, the Nigeria AI Scaling Hub, the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, and Project BRIDGE, which aims to expand the country’s fibre-optic infrastructure.
According to him, the initiatives are intended to ensure that Nigeria is not only able to adopt artificial intelligence technologies but also develop and scale AI solutions capable of addressing local challenges and supporting economic growth.
The minister said the government remains committed to working with the private sector, academic institutions, development partners and technology innovators to improve digital infrastructure, develop skilled talent and promote responsible AI adoption.
The IMF, in its AI in Sub-Saharan Africa report, identified infrastructure, reliable power supply and digital skills as key factors that countries in the region must strengthen to maximise the economic benefits of artificial intelligence.
