Microsoft report outlines AI roadmap for Nigeria

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes global industries, a new white paper jointly commissioned by Microsoft, PwC, and Lagos Business School has offered a data-driven roadmap to help Nigeria leverage AI for inclusive development and economic transformation.

Unveiled during Microsoft AI Skills Week in Lagos, the report—AI in Nigeria—highlights the country’s potential to use AI as a powerful tool for solving local challenges, reducing inequality, and accelerating growth across key sectors such as finance, healthcare, agriculture, and education.

“Although AI is still emerging in Nigeria, global progress and local innovation are reshaping mindsets. Policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs are beginning to see AI not just as a tech trend but as a national growth strategy,” said Ola Williams, Managing Director of Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, at the event’s opening session.

The five-day AI Skills Week brought together business leaders, developers, government representatives, and tech enthusiasts. With a mix of live sessions, self-paced modules, and interactive workshops, the program aimed to bridge knowledge gaps and build practical AI competencies needed to scale adoption in both public and private sectors.

Experts presented the white paper’s insights, emphasizing the importance of strategic implementation, skill development, and trust-building to fully realize AI’s potential in Nigeria.

The white paper recognizes the Nigerian government’s increasing commitment to AI. Initiatives such as the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS), the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and the recently launched National AI Strategy are foundational efforts to position Nigeria as a continental leader in AI innovation.

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“AI offers Nigeria a real opportunity to address pressing challenges across multiple domains,” said Olufemi Osinubi, Partner and WMA Consulting Risk Services Leader at PwC Nigeria. “But real progress depends on building trust and robust governance frameworks.”

AI applications are already taking root across Nigeria. In banking, chatbots now streamline customer interactions. In e-commerce, platforms like Bumpa act as AI-powered business advisors. In agriculture, companies such as Kitovu offer personalized crop management and agronomic advice.

These examples, according to the report, showcase AI’s potential to enhance productivity and drive growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.

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However, initiatives such as the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme from the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Microsoft’s AI Skills Navigator, are already addressing these gaps.

The white paper also emphasizes the role of AI in revolutionizing education. With AI-powered personalized learning tools, Nigeria can bridge educational equity gaps and improve outcomes.

Global case studies—from Uganda’s free legal education platforms to India’s AI-enhanced student performance in math and language—demonstrate how AI can uplift underserved communities.

Professor Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School, reinforced this vision: “Our commitment is to partner with government and industry—not just in defining AI use cases—but also in cultivating the ethical and analytical leadership needed to shape Africa’s digital future.”

The AI in Nigeria white paper concludes with a call to action: unite government, industry, and academia to co-create a future where AI is accessible, equitable, and beneficial for all.

“By bringing together stakeholders and addressing the specific roadblocks to adoption, we believe this white paper offers a practical blueprint for AI transformation,” concluded Ola Williams. “Nigeria has a real opportunity to lead, not follow, in the global AI race.”