Nigeria’s AI Strategy Targets $15bn GDP Boost, Equips Youth with 70% AI Skills by 2030
Nigeria is making a bold play to secure its place in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution with an ambitious National AI Strategy. The plan, unveiled at the United Nations General Assembly’s Global Dialogue on AI Governance in New York, projects AI to contribute $15 billion to the nation’s GDP by 2030 while training 70 percent of its youthful workforce in AI skills. With over 60 percent of its population under the age of 25, Nigeria aims to position its young talent as a competitive advantage in the global digital economy.
The initiative is being driven by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, under the supervision of Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy. Backed by institutions like the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the strategy targets a 27 percent annual market expansion through 2030. It focuses on using AI to solve real challenges such as bridging infrastructure gaps, powering fintech innovation, boosting agricultural productivity, and supporting energy and healthcare systems—all while ensuring ethical standards guide innovation.
Oluwaseun Dania, managing director of Alpha-Geek Technologies and one of Nigeria’s prominent tech leaders, said the initiative is about more than economic returns. “The success of the AI revolution should be measured by lives uplifted, not merely GDP spikes,” he told global leaders, pointing to Nigeria’s mobile-first AI adoption as a pathway to empower millions of young people. By embedding AI into daily life, the country hopes to foster inclusive growth, provide new career paths, and enhance global competitiveness.
Still, the strategy acknowledges AI’s risks, from deepfakes threatening trust to biased algorithms reinforcing inequality and data monopolies widening global divides. To counter this, Nigeria’s plan introduces African-led ethical standards rooted in ubuntu values—humanity toward others—with built-in safeguards like privacy-by-design policies, bias audits, and predictive analytics for crisis management. These measures aim to ensure that the rapid adoption of AI benefits society without leaving vulnerable communities behind.
Nigeria’s vision, Dania emphasized, is not just national but continental. He urged global stakeholders to recognize Africa’s role in shaping AI governance, noting that with a population of 1.4 billion people, the continent’s voice must be central in building fair and inclusive AI systems. “Africa is ready to co-create, not merely comply,” Dania declared, signaling that Nigeria’s strategy could serve as a blueprint for other African nations seeking to balance innovation with equity in the AI era.
source: business day