Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has issued a bold call for African governments to unite in building artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, policies, and governance frameworks.
Speaking at the inaugural GITEX Nigeria Summit 2025 in Abuja, Tijani stressed that failure to act collectively could leave Africa dangerously behind in the global AI race.
The four-day summit, holding in Abuja and Lagos from September 1 to 4, brings together technology leaders, policymakers, innovators, and investors under the theme of accelerating digital transformation across Africa.
Supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the event marks Nigeria’s strongest positioning yet as a continental hub for innovation.
In his keynote, Tijani warned that Artificial intelligence would define global productivity for decades to come, potentially widening the gap between advanced economies and developing nations.
“The risk for Africa is clear; if we are not deliberate, AI will widen the global productivity gap,” he declared.
“Countries already ahead will move faster, while those still catching up risk being left far behind.”
He illustrated this with stark agricultural comparisons: Nigeria produces 2.5 tonnes of maize per hectare, while South Africa averages six tonnes and Brazil achieves 12 tonnes.
The key difference, he noted, lies in technology-driven productivity, including AI-powered precision farming.
Tijani outlined a four-pillar framework for Africa’s Artificial intelligence readiness:
Shared Governance and Sovereignty – balancing national control with continent-wide collaboration.
Talent Development – training millions of young Africans in coding, machine learning, and digital skills, citing Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent programme as a model.
Data Sovereignty – digitising African realities in health, agriculture, and language to ensure AI models reflect the continent’s unique contexts.
Infrastructure Investment – prioritising connectivity, compute power, and clean energy.
“AI depends on connectivity, compute, and clean energy—all of which remain expensive and unevenly distributed across Africa,” Tijani said.
“No single country can shoulder this burden alone. We must collaborate on long-term strategies that reduce costs and unlock inclusive participation.”
Nigeria has emerged a leader in Africa’s Artificial Intelligence drive.
The country ranks among the top 60 globally in AI development and recently launched its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, co-created with universities, industry experts, and international partners.
Earlier this year, the government unveiled the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Collective Industry (NAICI), a platform designed to link local researchers with global AI leaders, ensuring knowledge sharing and cross-border collaboration.
According to Tijani, these initiatives are not just about technology but about Africa’s future sovereignty:
“Our children must be able to say their leaders prepared them, secured their future, and refused to let Africa be left behind.”
Adding to the conversation, Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Dubai World Trade Centre and CEO of KAOUN International, highlighted the importance of partnerships between Nigeria, Africa, and international stakeholders.
“Collaboration with global players can help Africa attract investment, foster innovation, and carve its place in the global digital economy,” she said.
In his welcome address, NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa underscored the need for African-built algorithms and shared infrastructure.
He urged policymakers to adopt policies that make the continent not just a consumer of Artificial intelligence but a creator of solutions tailored to African realities.
The Abuja leg of GITEX Nigeria will be followed by the Tech Expo & Future Economy Conference (September 3–4) at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre in Lagos, alongside the Startup Festival at the Landmark Centre.
These sessions are expected to feature Nigerian startups, multinational tech giants, and investors exploring opportunities in Africa’s $180 billion digital economy.
Experts believe that if Africa heeds Tijani’s call for unity, the continent could leapfrog traditional development stages, positioning itself as a serious contender in the fourth industrial revolution.
As one participant put it: “Africa cannot afford to miss the AI wave. This is our moonshot moment.”
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