Nigeria is banking on artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver of President Bola Tinubu’s ambition to transform Africa’s most populous nation into a $1 trillion economy by 2030, according to Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Tijani, who was recently named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential personalities in AI for 2025, alongside Tesla’s Elon Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, said Nigeria is positioning itself as a global leader in the responsible deployment of AI.
Speaking after the recognition, Tijani highlighted Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, developed with over 120 Nigerian experts worldwide, as a foundation for harnessing the technology for productivity and inclusive growth.
“This recognition further validates our belief that Nigeria can stand as a global leader in the responsible and inclusive deployment of AI for increased productivity,” Tijani wrote on LinkedIn.
The National Economic Council (NEC) last week formally endorsed the $1 trillion economy framework, underscoring the government’s determination to achieve the target within the next five years.
Nigeria has been piloting AI-driven applications in healthcare, agriculture, education and financial inclusion. The government says these sectors will deliver both social impact and economic returns, while boosting innovation across industries.
With support from partners such as Google and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nigeria is also scaling homegrown AI innovations by providing mentorship, resources and funding to local startups.
To institutionalise progress, Tijani announced the launch of two new initiatives: AI Collective: a community of researchers and practitioners backed by philanthropic organisation Luminate.
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AI Trust: a high-level body of national leaders tasked with steering long-term AI investments.
“Our commitment remains clear: to ensure AI not only drives innovation but also contributes to building a $1 trillion economy as envisioned by President Tinubu,” Tijani said.
While infrastructure gaps remain a challenge, Nigeria is investing heavily in technical skills through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, designed to train Nigerians in AI, data science, and digital skills. Many graduates are already working on digitizing government operations and creating datasets critical for AI systems.
Experts believe that with government backing, international partnerships, and a growing pool of skilled talent, Nigeria could emerge as a continental hub for artificial intelligence, driving innovation, jobs, and economic growth.
