Microsoft Executive: Nigeria Can Lead the World in AI with Proper Infrastructure and Talent Development
Abideen Yusuf, the General Manager of Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, has declared that Nigeria is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI), provided the right infrastructure and talent development strategies are put in place.
Speaking in Lagos, Yusuf emphasised that while the country already showcases “pockets of innovation”, Nigeria must scale its AI capabilities nationally to unlock its full economic potential.
AI Offers a $15 Trillion Opportunity by 2030
Yusuf pointed to global projections that estimate AI will contribute $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. He stated that Nigeria has a rare opportunity to shift from being a consumer of AI solutions to becoming a global producer.
“True economic growth will come from making this technology widely accessible across the country,” Yusuf said.
“We must invest in both a strong AI ecosystem and an AI-ready workforce.”
Lagos Leading the Way, But National Infrastructure Is Key
According to Yusuf, Lagos is already a model, showing Nigeria’s capacity for tech innovation with its fast-growing startup ecosystem and venture capital flow. However, for the rest of the country to follow, the focus must shift to building out national digital infrastructure.
He highlighted Microsoft’s contributions, including:
- Development of Africa’s first Microsoft data centres in Nigeria
- Deployment of edge nodes for faster network speeds
- Investments in cloud computing and digital access
These assets are critical to support AI applications at scale across key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and fintech.
Public-Private Partnerships Will Accelerate Nigeria’s AI Journey
Yusuf stressed the role of collaboration between the government and the private sector. He praised partnerships with ministries, agencies, and foundations that are already making strides in bridging Nigeria’s digital divide.
One such example is Microsoft’s collaboration with Wootlab Foundation to deliver AI training programs tailored to Nigeria’s specific needs.
Skills Development Crucial to Unlocking AI Potential
While infrastructure is foundational, Yusuf warned that it’s not sufficient. A digitally skilled workforce is key to fully utilising AI technologies.
“With Africa expected to host 42% of the world’s youth population by 2030, Nigeria must prioritize technical talent development,” he said.
He applauded the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, launched by Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at creating 2 million digital jobs and preparing young Nigerians for the digital economy.
Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and Language Model Projects
What You Should Know:
- Nigeria recently released a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, currently under review by government ministries and agencies (MDAs), and soon to be adopted as national policy.
- The government also launched the AI Collective, which will work on AI research, hackathons, and projects to promote inclusive AI development.
- In a pioneering move, Nigeria unveiled its own Large Language Model (LLM) trained on 5 low-resource languages and accented English. This AI model aims to boost local language representation in global datasets.
According to Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, these steps will help establish Nigeria as a continental AI powerhouse.
Final Thoughts
With the right infrastructure, strong public-private partnerships, and a focus on digital skills, Nigeria has the ingredients to become a global AI leader. Backed by Microsoft’s investment and national initiatives like the 3MTT and AI Strategy, the country is poised to make AI a driver of inclusive economic growth.
“Our ability to harness AI for inclusive economic growth hinges on both our infrastructure and our people,” said Yusuf.
“With the right focus, Nigeria can become a global leader in AI innovation.”
