Funding Gaps Threaten Nigeria’s AI Drive

Nigeria continues to lead West Africa in artificial intelligence adoption and nfrastructure development, yet its progress is threatened by a significant funding gap. According to the 2025 edition of the State of AI Policy in Africa report, Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) lacks dedicated financial backing and statutory support. While the country has shown impressive implementation through initiatives like local language models and AI scaling hubs, the absence of clear budget allocations and reliance on external partners remains a critical weakness.

The report highlights Nigeria’s strong engagement with international stakeholders. In 2024, organizations such as UNDP, UNESCO, Meta, Google, and Microsoft collectively contributed $3.5 million to support the initial rollout of AI programs. Additional investments include Rack Centre’s $120 million data centre, OADC’s $240 million hyperscale facility, Google’s ₦100 million AI Fund, and Microsoft’s $1 million local commitment—underscoring global confidence in Nigeria’s AI potential.

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Public involvement has been central to Nigeria’s AI strategy. A four-day stakeholder workshop in April 2024 brought together voices from academia, civil society, and industry, complemented by online consultations. UNESCO followed up with training sessions for civil servants in early 2025, while states like Edo, Sokoto, and Imo hosted grassroots AI workshops to boost local understanding and adoption.

Nigeria’s achievements include the launch of N-ATLAS, a multilingual language model supporting Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, and the establishment of an AI Scaling Hub in partnership with the Gates Foundation to expand AI applications in health, education, and agriculture. AI is also being used in social welfare programs to map urban poverty, demonstrating its real-world impact.

Regionally, Senegal stands out as the only West African country with a fully costed AI strategy, allocating $46 million for research and training. However, most countries in the region, including Nigeria, have yet to enact AI-specific legislation, leaving regulatory frameworks informal. Ghana joins Nigeria at the forefront of AI adoption, with a 10-year strategy and active deployments in health, finance, and agriculture, supported by Google and Japan-backed hubs. Côte d’Ivoire and Benin have outlined strategies but struggle with enforcement and budgeting, while Burkina Faso remains in the early drafting phase.

The report recommends that African nations move beyond high-level ambitions by enacting enforceable AI laws, investing in local talent, establishing multi-year budgets, and fostering regional collaboration. Ethical literacy, algorithmic accountability, and judicial training are also emphasized as key pillars for sustainable AI governance.