Nigeria’s ambition to build a competitive and sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem will depend largely on the strength of its digital infrastructure, according to Dr. Amina Sambo Magaji, a digital transformation and artificial intelligence expert and former Director of the Information Technology Department at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Speaking during a panel session on Accountability, Governance and Institutional Coordination at the Omniverse Africa Summit 3.0, Magaji stresses that building a responsible AI ecosystem requires more than regulations and policy frameworks.

While governance structures remain important, Magaji argues that the successful implementation of Nigeria’s AI ambitions will depend on coordinated efforts involving government, academia, industry, civil society organisations, state governments and citizens.

“Collaboration,” she says, “is essential to developing policies that encourage responsible innovation, promote inclusion and equity, and ensure that the benefits of AI contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development and digital future.”

Magaji: Successful implementation of Nigeria’s AI ambitions depends on coordinated efforts

“Building a responsible and sustainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem requires more than regulatory frameworks; it demands collaboration, inclusivity, and coordinated action among all stakeholders,” Magaji says.

Her remarks come as Nigeria moves forward with the implementation of its National AI Strategy, a framework designed to guide the development, adoption and governance of artificial intelligence technologies across the country.

The strategy seeks to position Nigeria as a leading AI hub in Africa by promoting innovation, strengthening research and development, building local talent, encouraging investment and establishing safeguards for the responsible use of AI.

According to Magaji, NITDA is supporting implementation of the strategy through strategic institutional partnerships, digital infrastructure development, talent cultivation and digital literacy programmes.

She identifies digital infrastructure as one of the most important requirements for developing a thriving AI ecosystem, noting that the technology’s potential cannot be fully realised without the foundational systems needed to support innovation and deployment.

Artificial intelligence applications typically depend on reliable broadband connectivity, cloud computing services, data centres, computing power and access to quality datasets. These resources provide the backbone required to develop, train and deploy AI models at scale.

As countries around the world invest heavily in AI capabilities, experts increasingly view digital infrastructure as a strategic national asset that can determine a country’s ability to compete in the emerging digital economy.

For Nigeria, however, infrastructure challenges remain a significant concern.

While broadband penetration has improved in recent years, stakeholders have continued to point to gaps in connectivity coverage, inconsistent electricity supply, limited high-performance computing resources and the cost of digital infrastructure as barriers to innovation.

Technology experts have warned that without sufficient infrastructure investment, AI development could remain concentrated in major urban centres, limiting opportunities for wider participation and reducing the technology’s potential impact on economic development.

Magaji notes that government has an important role to play in creating enabling policies and governance structures, but emphasised that responsible AI adoption requires contributions from multiple sectors.

She said universities and research institutions have a responsibility to develop local talent and expand research capabilities, while private sector organisations can help drive investment and commercialisation of AI innovations.

Civil society groups, she adds, have a role in promoting transparency and accountability, while state governments can support adoption and implementation efforts at the sub-national level.

Magaji further emphasises the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance, arguing that collaboration is necessary to create policies that encourage innovation while ensuring fairness, inclusion and accountability.

“Collaboration,” she says, “is essential to developing policies that encourage responsible innovation, promote inclusion and equity, and ensure that the benefits of AI contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development and digital future.”

Her comments reflect growing global concerns about how governments and institutions should govern artificial intelligence as the technology becomes increasingly integrated into business operations, public services and everyday life.

Around the world, policymakers are grappling with issues ranging from data privacy and cybersecurity to algorithmic bias, transparency and the potential impact of automation on employment.

The challenge, experts say, is to create governance frameworks that protect citizens and encourage responsible innovation without stifling technological progress.

For Nigeria, the conversation is particularly significant as the country seeks to expand the contribution of the digital economy to national development.

The focus on infrastructure aligns with broader efforts by the FG to expand broadband access, strengthen digital public infrastructure and improve digital literacy across the country.

Government agencies have increasingly emphasised the importance of creating an enabling environment for emerging technologies, viewing AI as a potential catalyst for economic growth, improved public service delivery and increased productivity across multiple sectors.

Across Africa, governments are similarly exploring ways to harness AI to address challenges in healthcare, agriculture, education, financial services and governance.

However, infrastructure deficits, limited funding for research and development and shortages of specialised skills continue to constrain the growth of AI ecosystems in many countries on the continent.

As implementation of Nigeria’s National AI Strategy gathers momentum, the issues raised by Magaji are likely to remain central to discussions on how the country can build a responsible, inclusive and globally competitive AI ecosystem.

The success of those efforts, she suggests, will depend not only on effective regulation but also on investments in the digital infrastructure and human capacity needed to turn AI ambitions into reality.