Nigeria is rapidly transforming into one of Africa’s most dynamic artificial intelligence (AI) hubs, with the country currently moving from experimentation to implementation with major implications for business, government and society, according to the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Landscape Report published by Nigeria AI.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s AI ecosystem, examining sector readiness, regulatory activity, startup growth, and partnerships across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, manufacturing, and finance.
Kashif Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Authority (NITDA), said artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most innovative technologies of our time, redefining the way societies function, economies grow and governments serve their people.
“For countries like Nigeria, AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to address development constraints and accelerate progress in critical sectors such as health, education, agriculture, finance and public service delivery,” he said.
“Innovation in this sector is not only desirable, but essential for our national competitiveness, digital sovereignty and inclusive growth,” Abdullahi added.
Wole Adeniyi, Chairman of the AI in Nigeria Foundation, said: “Nigeria is in a strong position to take the lead, not just in deploying AI, but in shaping a story that reflects our background, our values and aspirations. It is a story that speaks to the rest of Africa and the world.”
Ehia Erhaboh, co-founder of AI-in-Nigeria, said the AI landscape in Nigeria has experienced significant changes in the past two years, creating excitement about what lies ahead.
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“We are seeing growing ecosystems and stronger policy engagement with broader sector interests, use cases and applications. The momentum is growing and Nigeria is establishing itself as a key player in Africa’s new AI transformation,” he said.
Overall, Nigeria is moving from strong interest to strategic implementation. According to him, the publication of the draft Nigeria National AI Strategy (NAIS) in August 2024 marked the start of Nigeria’s formal AI strategy.
In February 2025, Nigeria established the Nigeria National AI Trust to oversee the implementation of NAIS and AI investments across key sectors. These measures highlight that Nigeria is on a path forward if implementation is sustained.
He said the involvement of private sector leaders in the trust and the initial investment by the Gates Foundation are early wins and a sign of exciting things to come.
The report argues that if Nigeria can effectively expand its AI ecosystem, it has the potential to not only improve productivity and service delivery, but also develop AI solutions that can be exported to the continent and beyond.
“As builders, investors and policymakers navigate the rapidly changing AI landscape, this report provides a clear guide to what’s real and what’s next.”
The report identified over 120 startups across Nigeria that are leveraging AI to address regional and global challenges. He noted that government strategies, industry partnerships and regulatory frameworks are increasingly aligned to create an enabling environment.
A sector-by-sector analysis reveals that industries such as financial services, telecommunications, and education are making further progress, while agriculture and manufacturing still have significant room for advancement with AI.
The report highlights that Nigeria is not just importing AI solutions, but actively developing solutions tailored to local realities. However, it cautions that significant structural and systemic challenges remain, including gaps in infrastructure (power, connectivity) and data readiness.
