At the GITEX Nigeria 2025 conference, top Nigerian officials emphasized the critical need for African nations to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity, create jobs, and remain globally competitive. The speakers warned that without rapid AI integration, the continent risks being left behind in the global digital economy.
Why Africa Must Adopt AI: Lessons from Around the World
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, highlighted how countries like Brazil are already reaping significant benefits from AI. He shared an example from Brazil and South Africa, where AI-powered precision agriculture uses drones and sensors to cut input costs by as much as 95 per cent. In contrast, he noted that Nigerian farmers, relying on older methods, produce far less maize per hectare.
To help Africa catch up, Dr. Tijani outlined four key priorities:
Develop National AI Strategies: Create national plans and shared standards to balance sovereignty with global collaboration.
Harness Youth Potential: Launch skills programs, like Nigeria’s “3 Million Technical Talent” initiative, to prepare the continent’s young population for an AI-driven future.
Create Local Datasets: Build data specific to Africa’s needs in areas like agriculture, healthcare, and education to ensure AI solutions are relevant.
Invest in Infrastructure: Expand access to affordable broadband and reliable, clean energy.
Collaboration and Safeguards Are Key
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), stressed that African nations must work together to build a shared AI infrastructure. He argued that countries left out of the AI revolution face a dire future, while those that embrace it will lead.
Abdullahi’s priorities for Africa mirrored Tijani’s, focusing on:
Human Capital: Developing skills through programs like the “3 Million Tech Talent” initiative.
Infrastructure: Building data centers and expanding connectivity to process African data locally.
Policy: Creating national AI strategies to ensure sovereignty and competitiveness.
Ecosystem: Supporting startups and research while partnering with global tech companies.
Similarly, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), underscored the importance of data protection. He called for the alignment of regulatory frameworks across Africa to ensure data remains sovereign, highlighting the role of the African Union in this effort.
GITEX’s Role in Nigeria’s Digital Future
GITEX Nigeria 2025 is a three-day, two-city event designed to connect innovators, investors, and businesses. Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre/CEO of KAOUN International, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to Africa. She emphasized that Nigeria, with its immense potential, must claim its spot at the global digital table, with GITEX serving as a platform to showcase its innovation to the world.
