Nigeria other African countries lag behind in artificial intelligence – Report

A new international study has revealed that African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Rwanda, are missing from the list of the world’s most innovative nations in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The report, published by Linkee, an AI-powered software company, assessed countries on patents, investments, number of AI models, workforce adoption, and job opportunities. It shows that while AI is booming globally, Africa is yet to make a significant mark.

According to the study, the global AI market is worth more than €130 billion and could reach nearly €1.9 trillion by 2030. The United States leads the global race with the highest number of AI models and $77.7 billion invested in the sector. Switzerland ranked second, South Korea third, China fourth, and Singapore fifth.

Other countries in the top 10 include Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Italy.

Despite not appearing on the list, Nigeria has been making progress in the digital economy. TIME magazine recently named the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, as one of the world’s 100 most influential figures in AI for 2025.

Tijani is leading the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which aims to train three million Nigerians in digital and technical skills by 2027. So far, nearly 300,000 young people have been trained. Many of them now work in public service, helping ministries digitise their operations and build datasets that can train AI systems with Nigerian content.

Nigeria has also launched several initiatives to strengthen its AI sector. These include the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), set up by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to promote research in AI, robotics, drones, and the Internet of Things. In April, the government unveiled its National AI Strategy, developed with input from 150 experts.

Commenting on the report, Linkee’s CEO, Vahan Poghosyan, said:
“The global AI race is not only about patents or investments. It also shows which countries are shaping the future of work, industry, and everyday life.”

NITDA’s Director-General, Dr. Kashifu Inuwa, stressed that embracing AI is vital to achieving Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy goal. He said AI could transform sectors such as agriculture, education, and business, and potentially grow the economy by 20 percent.

“AI is not meant to replace humans but to empower them,” he said. “Nations leading in AI will lead the world.”