Bosun Tijani artificial intelligence strategy sees AI as critical to Nigeria’s economy, with major broadband and tech talent investments underway

Bosun Tijani artificial intelligence vision took centre stage at the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja this week, where the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy described AI as non-negotiable for the country’s long-term prosperity.

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Speaking at a panel titled Smart Growth, Digital Leap, Tijani warned that without rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, Nigeria could be left behind in the global race for innovation and competitiveness.

“If AI cannot work for us, there’s literally no future for us,” he said during the session, which featured leading voices in tech and finance, including Citibank Nigeria’s CEO, Nneka Enwereji, and Future Africa’s Iyinoluwa Aboyeji.

The minister stressed that President Bola Tinubu’s digital agenda is anchored in transforming Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy, with AI playing a critical role.

According to him, the government is focused on expanding infrastructure, investing in tech talent, and creating policies that encourage AI-driven solutions across sectors such as agriculture, mining, and education.

In line with this, Tijani revealed plans for a ₦21 billion research fund to support universities, innovators and institutes working in digital literacy, cybersecurity, and online safety.

Tijani also announced the rollout of a $2 billion fibre-optic infrastructure programme, with government contributing 49 per cent and private investors covering the rest.

This, he said, will ensure every state and local government area has access to fast, affordable internet—an essential step toward enabling artificial intelligence and digital inclusion.

Drawing comparisons with countries like China and Brazil, the minister noted that Nigeria must replicate global models where broadband has unlocked productivity, especially in rural agriculture.

He warned that continued reliance on food imports is directly tied to poor digital penetration in farming communities, which stifles modernisation and scalability.

Also speaking at the summit, IHS Nigeria CEO Mohamad Darwish backed Tijani’s position, noting that digital infrastructure is now the backbone of national productivity.

He praised government efforts, including the Three Million Technical Talent programme, but called for stronger collaboration with the private sector to bridge gaps in access, power reliability, and digital literacy.

“A coordinated push for digital adoption across value chains will unlock competitiveness, attract investment, and position Nigeria as a future-ready economy,” Darwish said.

He added that IHS, which has built over 16,000 towers and 15,000km of fibre nationwide, remains committed to supporting innovation hubs, school connectivity, and youth upskilling, using green energy to power inclusive growth.

Tijani noted that Nigeria recently launched Africa’s first government-backed AI land mapping model at the UN General Assembly in New York.

This tool will support local developers in training AI systems tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges—an early example of how AI can solve real-world problems in land management and agriculture.

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He concluded by calling for an urgent national commitment to AI, warning that the country “cannot afford to wait another decade.”

Bosun Tijani

Bosun Tijani

Bosun Tijani