Microsoft calls on Nigeria to strengthen public sector AI skills

Microsoft has called on Nigeria to prioritise artificial intelligence (AI) capacity building within the public sector, arguing that the country’s ability to harness the transformative potential of AI will depend more on the preparedness of policymakers and civil servants than on access to advanced technologies.

The call was made by the Government Affairs Director for Microsoft West Africa, Nonye Ujam, who said governments around the world are increasingly recognising that institutional capability—not technology alone—is the foundation for successful AI adoption.

According to Ujam, every major economic transformation has been driven by institutions capable of translating innovation into national development, noting that in the era of artificial intelligence, policymakers and public sector leaders will play a decisive role in determining whether AI becomes a catalyst for economic growth or a missed opportunity.

She explained that countries making the fastest progress in AI adoption are not necessarily those with the most sophisticated technology infrastructure but those that invested early in developing institutional capacity and digital governance.

Citing Microsoft’s latest research, Ujam said nations leading in AI implementation introduced the technology into public service delivery long before the emergence of generative AI, allowing governments to gradually integrate AI into governance processes and build public confidence.

“When generative AI became widely available, it was seen as an evolution rather than a disruption because governments had already developed institutional familiarity with the technology,” she said.

She also referenced findings by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which indicate that AI delivers meaningful improvements in efficiency, accountability and public service delivery only when governments possess the institutional expertise required to deploy and regulate the technology effectively.

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According to her, many governments have launched AI pilot projects, but a lack of AI literacy among public officials has often prevented those initiatives from scaling into sustainable national programmes.

Ujam noted that Nigeria has already demonstrated its ambition through the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which seeks to promote ethical, inclusive and locally driven AI development supported by strong governance frameworks and strategic partnerships.

She, however, observed that although AI adoption expanded in Nigeria during 2025, growth remained modest due largely to shortages of specialised skills in areas such as data engineering, machine learning and AI systems optimisation.

She said the skills gap mirrors a global trend where the rapid pace of AI innovation continues to outstrip the ability of governments and institutions to adapt policy frameworks, regulatory systems and public service delivery.

According to Ujam, successful public sector reforms have historically depended on institutional competence, stressing that AI should not be viewed differently.

“Public sector leaders do not need to become technologists, but they require sufficient understanding of AI to design effective policies, evaluate risks and guide innovation with confidence,” she said.

Ujam outlined a phased approach to strengthening AI capabilities across government institutions, beginning with identifying existing skills gaps and designing targeted learning programmes for policymakers and senior public officials.

She said governments that have achieved early success in AI adoption typically begin by equipping ministers, legislators and senior civil servants with foundational knowledge that enables them to formulate informed policies and regulatory frameworks.

According to her, AI literacy should also extend beyond technical personnel to include administrators and decision-makers across ministries, departments and agencies.

She pointed to recent AI leadership programmes organised for members of the National Assembly and senior government officials as examples of efforts aimed at improving institutional readiness for AI governance.

The Microsoft executive also highlighted collaborative capacity-building initiatives involving agencies such as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), describing them as important steps toward strengthening expertise in data governance, responsible AI and cybersecurity.

She added that nationwide initiatives such as the Developers in Government (DevsInGov) programme and the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative could further accelerate AI adoption by expanding digital skills across the public sector and the broader economy.

According to Ujam, capable public institutions create the stable policy environment needed to foster innovation, attract private investment and encourage wider AI adoption across industries.

She maintained that stronger institutions would enable government agencies to manage emerging risks proactively, develop coherent regulations and build public trust in AI-driven services.

With Nigeria’s digital economy continuing to expand, Ujam said the country’s greatest investment in artificial intelligence may ultimately lie not in hardware or software, but in developing the people responsible for shaping policies and deploying AI technologies in the public interest.

She concluded that strengthening institutional capacity will be essential if Nigeria is to realise its ambition of becoming a leading AI hub in Africa while ensuring that innovation delivers broad-based economic and social benefits.