NAIS NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY
!img-0.jpeg
!img-1.jpeg
SEPTEMBER, 2025
NCAIR NATIONAL CENTRE FOR APPROVAL INTELLIGENCE & ROBOTICS
NITDA National Institute for International Development Agency
NATIONAL NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY
# Acknowledgements
The Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) would like to acknowledge the contributions of all stakeholders who contributed data, participated in workshops and interviews, and provided feedback during the drafting and finalisation of this National AI Strategy. The Ministry appreciates the support of the Lagos Business School, Data Science Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone (GBB) and other stakeholders whose assistance was invaluable in creating this National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
2
NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY
# Contents
Acknowledgements 2 Contents 3 Executive Summary 4 Foreword 7 Acronyms 8 Introduction 7 Vision & Guiding Principles 28 Strategic Objectives 30 Strategic Pillars 31 Risks & Mitigation Strategies 48 Conclusion 58 Appendices
NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY
# Executive Summary
The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has precipitated a paradigmatic shift in global innovation and transformation, driving cutting-edge advancements across nations and industries. The ramifications of its impact on the global ecosystem and specifically on the developmental trajectory of Nigeria and other African nations are profound and far-reaching. Nigeria, as the continent's most populous country, is singularly positioned to harness AI's transformative capacity to address pressing socio-economic conundrums, accelerate economic growth, and pivot the nation into a new epoch of technological empowerment, which will unlock unprecedented opportunities for sustainable development, economic prosperity, and human flourishing.
This National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) is a living document to guide Nigeria's adoption of artificial intelligence for socio-economic change. Before presenting the strategy, the document presents a background and explanatory notes on AI, setting the context for AI in an emerging market like Nigeria.
Nigeria's National AI Strategy (NAIS) sets a path to achieve the vision "To be a global leader in AI, leveraging ethical and inclusive innovation, local talent, and strategic collaboration to drive sustainable development."
# Strategic Objectives
While the opportunities in AI abound, the NAIS is framed and aligned with Nigeria's national development goals, the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy's strategic plan, Accelerating our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency, the National Information Technology Development Agency's Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.
The key strategic goals of this NAIS are to 1) build economic growth and competitiveness by focussing on AI's impact on industries, jobs and productivity, through local and foreign participation, 2) enhance social development and inclusion by improving outcomes in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and education, addressing issues like poverty, inequalities and climate change, improve government services leaving no citizen behind and empowering citizens to harness AI benefits; 3) promote Nigeria's technological advancement and leadership by developing the research, development and innovation resources, capabilities and frameworks for responsible and ethical AI and promoting Nigeria as a stakeholder in the global AI ecosystem.
NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY
# Strategic Pillars