Nigeria’s AI Adoption Lags Behind Global Average as Infrastructure Gaps Deepen Digital Divide

Nigeria is falling behind in the global artificial intelligence race, according to a new Microsoft report that highlights a widening gap between developed and developing economies in AI adoption. The findings suggest that while AI use is accelerating worldwide, Africa’s largest economy is struggling to keep pace due to long-standing infrastructure challenges.

The report, titled Global AI Diffusion Q1 2026 Trends and Insights, shows that global AI adoption among the working-age population has risen to 17.8%, up from 16.3% in late 2025. However, Nigeria’s adoption rate stands at just 10.1%, placing it below both the global average and the 15.4% average recorded across the Global South.

Microsoft warned that this imbalance reflects deeper structural issues limiting digital transformation in developing regions. Weak electricity supply, limited broadband access, and a shortage of digital skills continue to slow down AI uptake, leaving many countries at risk of missing out on productivity gains driven by generative AI technologies.

Across regions, the divide is even more striking. The Global North recorded an AI adoption rate of 27.5%, compared to 15.4% in the Global South. Leading countries such as the United Arab Emirates (70.1%), Singapore (63.4%), and the United States (31.3%) continue to dominate the AI landscape, while African adoption remains uneven despite pockets of progress.

In Africa, South Africa leads with 23.1% adoption, followed by Egypt at 14.8% and Senegal at 13.9%, while Nigeria lags behind despite its rapidly growing tech ecosystem in cities like Lagos. Microsoft also noted that improvements in local-language AI support, including African languages such as Yoruba, could help boost accessibility and encourage wider adoption if infrastructure challenges are addressed.

source: Leadership