Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Hon. Bosun Tijani, has urged African nations to put artificial intelligence (AI) at the heart of their development strategies. He warned that the continent risks falling further behind if it remains only a consumer of technology.
This was Tijani’s first public appearance since being named alongside OpenAI’s Sam Altman and NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in AI in 2025.
“Africa must not treat AI as an afterthought and be a consumer-centric continent importing food, services, and innovation; we must produce, lead, and innovate. That is why AI must sit at the very center of our strategy,” Tijani said at the inaugural GITEX Nigeria Government Leadership & AI Summit in Abuja. The summit kicked off the inaugural edition of GITEX Nigeria before moving to Lagos on 2-3 September.
GITEX and Africa’s push for digital transformation
While Nigeria’s call is bold, the continent’s readiness is uneven. As of mid-2025, only 16 African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Algeria, have launched national AI strategies. Several others are still drafting policies.
Nigeria transitioned from policy drafts to the formal launch of its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in April 2025. The plan prioritizes infrastructure, ethics, innovation, and digital talent. Implementation has begun through programs such as NITDA’s three-million-tech-talent initiative and new AI research hubs.
Click to signupThe summit was held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and organized with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and KAOUN International.
Lagos’s position as a startup hub
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also addressed the gathering. He described the state as a resilient hub for startups and digital infrastructure.
“With our vibrant, youthful population and a proven track record of attracting significant investment, Lagos is not just ambitious—we are a resilient state actively building the digital infrastructure and scaling the startups needed to turn policy into progress,” he said.
Other speakers included Pedro Fernandes Lopes, Secretary of State for Digital Economy, Cape Verde; Dahlia Khalifa, Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, IFC; Karl Olutokun Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria and Vice President for Francophone Africa, MTN Group; and Robin Njiru, Public Sector Lead for West, East, and Central Africa, Amazon Web Services
Expanding on AI’s opportunities, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Abdullahi said automation could grow the world economy by 20% within five years, citing projections from Epoch AI. He highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to preparing its workforce through digital literacy, AI-focused education, and large-scale training.
“This AI era is not just about technology—it is about talent. And talent, when nurtured, empowered, and digitally fluent, will define our progress and position us to be a regional and global leader in this revolution,” Abdullahi said.
The event also drew insights from leaders at UNDP, Google Cloud, Cisco, and Microsoft Research, underlining strong global interest in Africa’s AI journey.
