A high-profile meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Paris highlights Nigeria’s notable advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). The conversation centred on developing AI expertise, encouraging creativity, and fortifying Nigeria’s Technology sector in spite of obstacles including deepfake frauds and cybersecurity dangers. Global IT behemoths like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta have invested more than $320 billion in AI between them. The $75 billion that Google alone has allotted includes money for talent development programs and AI startups in Nigeria.
With training programs that have helped more than 1,200 people, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is playing a critical role in developing AI talent. Investing in AI offers potential, but there are hazards as well, especially in cybersecurity. Cybercriminals are using AI to create ransomware, deepfake frauds, and phishing attacks. In one case, scammers defrauded a French woman of €830,000 by pretending to be Hollywood actor Brad Pitt using artificial intelligence-generated images. The burgeoning Cryptocurrency market in Nigeria is also susceptible to AI-driven fraud, as con artists fabricate convincingly realistic phoney Investment platforms.
Nigeria’s AI industry will expand by 27.08% between 2025 and 2030.
Experts advise investing in AI-powered Security solutions, bolstering cybersecurity laws, and raising public awareness in order to counter these dangers. Nigeria has also created a Large Language Model (LLM) and a National AI Strategy to enhance the representation of African languages in AI datasets. It is recommended that professionals strike a balance between technological expertise and human-centric abilities like creativity and critical thinking as AI transforms industries and job positions. For organisations to be ready for an AI-driven future, mentorship and ongoing learning must be promoted.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to drastically alter Nigeria’s main industries, such as healthcare, education, and the economy. AI is expected to significantly strengthen Nigeria’s economy. It is anticipated that Nigeria’s artificial intelligence industry will expand by 27.08% between 2025 and 2030, reaching a market value of about $4.64 billion by that time. Increased labour Productivity and capital efficiency are expected to result from this increase, spurring Innovation in industries including manufacturing, banking, and agriculture. To increase overall economic output, AI can, for example, bring precision Agriculture techniques, enhance financial services through predictive analytics, and optimise supply networks.
Machine learning can help provide services more effectively.
In the healthcare industry, artificial intelligence provides answers to persistent problems. According to a survey, machine learning can help provide services more effectively, according to 77% of Nigerian healthcare experts. Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in Nigeria have already advanced; for instance, a team of high school students in Nigeria created an app to detect counterfeit drugs using open-source software from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), tackling the country’s pervasive problem of fake pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, AI-powered platforms such as “10mg” have made it possible to lend more than $1.25 million to around 5,000 Healthcare Providers in Senegal and Nigeria, expanding access to financing for medical services and benefitting almost 173,000 patients each month.
Through individualised learning experiences and increased administrative effectiveness, AI is also transforming Education in Nigeria. AI-powered solutions can adapt instructional materials to each student’s requirements, accommodating a range of learning preferences and speeds. Additionally, AI can help with administrative and grading duties, freeing up teachers to concentrate more on instruction and student involvement. The National AI Strategy places a strong emphasis on incorporating AI into the Curriculum in order to create a workforce that is prepared for the future. Nigeria has created the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), which was presented in August 2024, to capitalise on these advantages.
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Additionally, through ethical innovation and teamwork, the NAIS seeks to establish Nigeria as a global leader in AI and promote sustainable development. The creation of a strong digital infrastructure, funding for AI R&D, and the creation of legal frameworks to guarantee ethical AI use are some of the strategic pillars it describes. The plan also tackles possible hazards related to AI, including model-related issues, sociological, ethical, and economic issues, taking a holistic approach to reducing these difficulties.