Business

AI could help Nigeria, other developing economies achieve century of progress in decade

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2026

Preport

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help developing countries achieve in a decade what might otherwise take a century, according to the World Bank’s report.

The lender said governments must act swiftly to address gaps in electricity, connectivity, skills and institutional quality that could leave them behind.

The World Bank disclosed this in its latest World Development Report 2026, titled ‘The Promise of Artificial Intelligence’.

The report surveyed enterprises’ AI adoption in developing economies, sampling 777 firms in Nigeria.

The World Bank, in its report, urged developing economies to adopt an optimistic mindset, noting that AI could help governments reach billions of underserved people with medical, legal, educational, and agricultural services more quickly.

“AI could help extend otherwise costly medical, legal, educational, and agricultural services to the underserved billions—doing in a decade what might otherwise take a century,” the report stated.

It noted that jobs in high-income countries are more than three times as likely to be at risk of automation by generative AI as those in low- and middle-income countries, where 4.5 per cent of existing jobs are at risk, compared with 14.2 per cent in high-income countries.

At the same time, 16.2 per cent of jobs in developing economies could see their productivity meaningfully boosted by AI, close to the 18.7 per cent expected in high-income countries.
The greatest promise for developing countries lies not in replacing workers, but in amplifying what they can do, the report said.

“AI has thrown developing economies a lifeline, and they should seize it,” Indermit Gill, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank Group, added in the report.

He explained that developing economies do not need large models or big data centres to reap the benefits of AI adoption.

By adapting small, low-cost AI tools to local conditions, they can bring better medical care, education, judicial services and agricultural extension within reach of millions, the World Bank chief stated.

The report is the first comprehensive assessment of AI’s implications for developing countries, revealing how businesses and governments there have begun to use AI.

It revealed that AI is already helping people, businesses, and governments solve problems, analyse information, improve forecasts and deliver services on a larger scale.

These capabilities are especially valuable in countries where trained professionals, reliable records and public capacity are often limited.

According to the World Bank, AI tools can make it easier for doctors to diagnose patients, farmers to make better crop decisions, and businesses to become more productive.

Governments, too, could use AI to improve tax collection, social programmes, disaster response, healthcare, and education, it added.

The lender said AI could significantly boost the weak growth performance of developing countries before the end of the 2020s while delivering tangible benefits to people.

READ ALSO: Engaging the blackbox-glassbox paradox: Media imperatives in the era of artificial intelligence, By Omoniyi Ibietan

The report added that the opportunity is limited, noting that most developing economies still lack the power, internet access, data, skills and institutions needed to use AI effectively.

The report stated that, without deliberate action, AI could widen disparities between countries, increase inequality within them, concentrate market power, weaken trust in public institutions, and create new risks to safety, rights, and social cohesion.

The report outlines a clear three-stage approach: adopt available tools, tailor them to local circumstances, and gradually progress towards frontier AI development.

Discover more from Premium Times Nigeria

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Related Topics:Achieve century decade developing economies Nigeria Progress

Up Next

Akinrinsola: Nigeria Must Believe as Netball Team Steps Up World Cup Push

Don't Miss

ChatGPT can now send texts for you with new Apple Messages plugin

Click to comment

Business

Leadway Backs ISSP to Deepen Insurance Penetration, Consumer Trust

Published

7 hours ago

September 11, 2026

Preport

Leadway Assurance Limited has launch Insurance Sector Strengthening Programme (ISSP), a five-year initiative.

The programme, held in Abuja, was designed to address key challenges limiting insurance growth in Nigeria, including low public awareness, weak consumer confidence, inadequate distribution, capacity constraints, and limited insurance adoption among women, young people, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of NAICOM, Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, said the programme would provide a coordinated framework to translate industry reforms into measurable improvements in insurance coverage and consumer confidence.

“The ISSP initiative will focus on six key areas: advocacy and policy, awareness and education, capacity building, gender inclusion, youth engagement, and MSME and value-chain development. Efforts to expand insurance coverage must be supported by strong underwriting standards, good corporate governance, effective claims administration, transparency and adequate policyholder protection. Regulation must serve as both a shield for policyholders and a compass for responsible market development.”

Also, the Head, Commercial Division, Leadway Assurance, Mr. Olawale Alao, described the ISSP as a timely intervention capable of tackling both the structural and perception-related challenges confronting the industry.
Alao said the programme offered stakeholders a structured platform to identify market gaps and develop practical solutions to improve public understanding and participation.

He said its success would largely depend on changing the perception of insurance from an optional financial product to an essential part of everyday life and financial planning.’

“Over the next five years, we believe this initiative can deepen awareness, particularly among young Nigerians, build stronger trust in the sector and encourage more people to see insurance as an essential tool for protection and financial resilience,” he said.

”Increasing the number of policyholders alone would not be sufficient, stressing that Nigerians must also understand the value of insurance and be able to incorporate it into their everyday financial decisions. He added that stronger awareness and confidence in insurance would be particularly important among younger Nigerians, who represent a major part of the country’s future consumer and investment base.Also speaking on this initiative, Team Lead of the ISSP Design Team and Managing Director of EMDI Capacity Development Ltd., Bukola Ifemade, called for urgent and coordinated action to unlock the trillion-naira potential of Nigeria’s insurance sector.

“This flag-off marks the beginning of this mobilisation. Success will require strong partnerships and a sustained commitment to innovation and inclusion,” he said.

The ISSP executive summary estimates that only about five per cent of Nigeria’s population currently has insurance coverage, while 78 per cent lack basic insurance knowledge. Women account for 32 per cent of policyholders, people aged 18 to 35 make up less than 20 per cent of the industry’s customer base, and insurance penetration among MSMEs is estimated at eight per cent. To address these gaps, the programme will target five million members of the general population, two million women entrepreneurs and decision-makers, 1.5 million young Nigerians and 250,000 MSMEs across Nigeria.

For Leadway, supporting the ISSP aligns with its commitment to building a formidable insurance industry by enhancing awareness, building consumer confidence, and making financial protection more accessible to individuals, families, and businesses.

About Leadway Assurance

Leadway Assurance is one of Nigeria’s foremost non-banking financial services groups, offering diversified solutions across insurance, pensions, health, and asset management. Founded in 1970, the company has built a legacy of trust and innovation, serving millions of individuals and businesses across Nigeria and West Africa.

The post Leadway Backs ISSP to Deepen Insurance Penetration, Consumer Trust appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

CBN disowns purported $46 billion grant approval

Published

15 hours ago

September 10, 2026

Preport

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disowned a purported document claiming that Governor Yemi Cardoso approved a $46 billion developmental grant to an organisation.

CBN, in a post on its official X account on Thursday, described the document as “fake” and urged members of the public to disregard it.

The purported letter, dated 13 August 2026, was addressed to the “Atufeg Empowerment and Development Centre” and claimed to be an official endorsement and authorisation for the release of a developmental grant.

It purportedly bore Mr Cardoso’s signature and stated that CBN had authorised the immediate transfer of $46 billion to the beneficiary’s designated account for the execution of “approved national empowerment and developmental projects.”

“The CBN confirms full endorsement and authorises the immediate transfer of these funds to the beneficiary’s designated account,” the purported letter stated.

It further claimed that the authorisation was “final and binding.”

Disclaimer

However, the apex bank, while sharing an image of the document on X, said: “This content is FAKE. Let the public be guided.”

CBN’s disclaimer comes amid the recurring circulation of purported government and financial institution documents on social media, underscoring the importance of verifying such claims through official channels before acting on them.

In recent months, OPay Digital Services Limited, May & Baker, MTN, Wema Bank and other corporate organisations have dissociated themselves from social media posts published by unauthorised entities impersonating their brands and issuing purported corporate messages.

On Thursday, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) announced that it had arrested Hafsat Abubakar for circulating false rumours about the OPay shutdown.

Similarly, in July, PREMIUM TIMES uncovered how unauthorised video advertisements on TikTok, offering financial assistance such as grants, loans, giveaways, and investment opportunities, were used to scam Nigerians.

The investigation found that the fraudulent ads, some of which were AI-generated, were designed to target and lure unsuspecting Nigerian users into scams.