Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has said the nation’s future depends on the rapid adoption and investment in artificial intelligence (AI), warning that without it, Nigeria risks losing its economic competitiveness.
Speaking on Monday at the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja during a panel session titled “Smart Growth, Digital Leap,” Tijani described AI as central to the country’s economic survival and long-term development. “If AI cannot work for us, there’s literally no future for us,” he stated.
The minister said the Federal Government is prioritising the development of AI infrastructure and technical talent to drive innovation across key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and education. He linked the government’s plan to create three million technical jobs directly to the country’s AI strategy, noting that Nigeria recently launched Africa’s first government-backed land mapping model at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to support local developers in building AI systems tailored to national challenges.
Tijani also highlighted the importance of broadband expansion and digital connectivity as prerequisites for successful digital transformation. He revealed that the government had begun implementing a $2 billion fibre-optic rollout, with the state providing 49 percent of the funding while private investors contribute the remaining 51 percent. The project aims to ensure every state and local government area has access points for smaller Internet service providers to extend coverage nationwide.
Drawing parallels with Brazil’s tech-enabled agriculture and China’s massive 5G network, Tijani warned that Nigeria would lag behind without decisive investment in connectivity and digital infrastructure. He attributed the nation’s heavy reliance on agricultural imports to poor connectivity and the inability to modernise farming at scale.
The minister further announced plans for a ₦21 billion research fund to support universities, research institutes, and innovators in areas such as digital literacy, cybersecurity, and online safety, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy. He called for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society, and academia to accelerate digital transformation, insisting that “Nigeria cannot afford to wait another decade to embrace AI and meaningful connectivity.”
Also speaking at the session, Mohamad Darwish, Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, said that digital technology must be at the centre of Nigeria’s growth strategy if the country is to achieve inclusive prosperity by 2030. He described digital infrastructure as “the backbone of national productivity” and urged both public and private sectors to act boldly in expanding broadband access, improving power reliability, and promoting digital literacy.
Darwish noted that despite progress in internet penetration and digital entrepreneurship, challenges persist, particularly in rural areas. He emphasised that public-private partnerships are key to bridging the digital divide and positioning Nigeria as a future-ready economy.
He added that IHS, which operates more than 16,000 towers and 15,000 kilometres of fibre nationwide, remains committed to supporting innovation hubs, school connectivity, and youth upskilling programmes. “Connectivity remains a catalyst for Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation,” Darwish said.
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