Nigeria is positioning itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence, according to Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
In an address to world leaders at the inaugural GITEX NIGERIA Government Leadership & AI Summit in Abuja, Tijani issued a rallying cry for Africa to become a producer and innovator, not just a consumer, in the AI revolution.
GITEX NIGERIA, held under the patronage of President Bola Tinubu, is a major event aimed at shaping Africa’s digital future.
Tijani, recently named among the world’s most influential people in AI by TIME magazine, restated the urgency of the moment. He warned that nations that fail to adopt AI risk losing competitiveness and falling further behind.
“Africa must not treat AI as an afterthought,” he stated. “We must produce, lead, and innovate. That is why AI must sit at the very centre of our strategy.”
The summit featured prominent leaders and experts, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who highlighted Lagos’s role as a resilient hub for digital infrastructure and startups.
He encouraged global tech leaders to view Africa as a co-creator in the AI revolution, underlining the potential to use AI to address pressing challenges and lead people out of economic hardship.
Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), further elaborated on the economic potential of AI, citing a projection that automation could grow the world economy by 20% within five years.
He detailed Nigeria’s initiatives to build a skilled workforce, including plans to train three million tech talents. “This AI era is not just about technology—it is about talent,” Abdullahi said.
The GITEX NIGERIA event is organised by KAOUN International, a global leader in organising technology events.
Trixie LohMirmand, EVP and CEO of KAOUN International, celebrated the launch of the tech show, stating that it “showcases the ambition and energy of Nigeria as the next global AI hub.”
The summit is the first part of the GITEX NIGERIA programme, which will continue on September 3-4 in Lagos at two locations, featuring the Tech Expo, Future Economy Conference, and the Startup Festival.
