Nigeria is banking on artificial intelligence (AI) to fuel President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of transforming Africa’s largest population into a $1 trillion economy by 2030, according to Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.
Tijani’s remarks came shortly after he was named to TIME magazine’s 2025 list of the 100 most influential people in AI, alongside Tesla’s Elon Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. The list recognises leaders shaping the global future of artificial intelligence.
A Global Recognition
In a post on LinkedIn, Tijani described the recognition as validation of Nigeria’s progress in building a responsible AI ecosystem.
“We got over 120 experts of Nigerian descent to co-create the long-term strategy for the responsible use and development of AI,” he said. “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.”
He highlighted ongoing national strategies, research programmes, and partnerships with global technology firms as evidence that Nigeria is serious about AI adoption.
Roadmap to $1 Trillion
Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy framework was endorsed by the National Economic Council last week. AI is seen as a key pillar, with early government-led pilot projects already underway in healthcare, agriculture, education and financial inclusion.
With support from partners such as Google and the Gates Foundation, the government is also scaling locally developed AI solutions by providing mentorship, funding, and resources to innovators.
Building AI Infrastructure and Talent
To sustain momentum, Tijani announced two new initiatives:
- AI Collective — a community of researchers and practitioners backed by philanthropic organisation Luminate
- AI Trust — a body of national leaders tasked with steering long-term investments in AI
Tijani acknowledged Nigeria’s infrastructure gaps but stressed that building technical capacity remains central.
Through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, thousands of Nigerians are being trained in AI and digital skills. Many graduates are already deployed to digitise government operations and create datasets that power AI systems.
The Bigger Picture
“Nigeria’s commitment remains clear: to ensure AI not only drives innovation but also contributes directly to building a $1 trillion economy as envisioned by President Tinubu,” Tijani said.
Observers note that while challenges remain, Nigeria’s blend of policy support, global recognition, and growing technical talent base marks a decisive step toward becoming a continental leader in AI innovation.
