Hussaini Umar
Nigeria has been ranked the leading country in Africa on the latest Global Index on Responsible AI, placing 38th in the world and first on the continent.
A statement by the Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy says, ‘The latest report gave Nigeria an overall score of 45.93, a significant improvement from its 80th global position in the inaugural 2024 rankings.
The country climbed 42 places in two years, ahead of Egypt and every other African nation assessed.
Published by the Global Center on AI Governance, the index measures how countries are preparing for the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
It assesses performance in areas including inclusion and diversity, ethics and sustainability, labour and skills, trust and safety, and the use of AI in public services.
The report says Nigeria’s progress reflects government efforts to strengthen artificial intelligence policy, expand digital infrastructure, develop local talent and establish governance frameworks for emerging technologies.
It also highlights the country’s growing role in promoting responsible AI development across the Global South.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the recognition reflects Nigeria’s commitment to building an AI ecosystem that is inclusive, responsible and aligned with national development goals.
He said the government remains focused on creating the infrastructure, skills and policy environment needed for artificial intelligence to support economic growth and improve lives.
Beyond the rankings, the report identified Nigeria as a global “Bright Spot” for advancing AI literacy while improving protections for children in the digital space.
It praised the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for promoting AI education and skills development, including teacher training and wider public awareness.
The report also highlighted the Federal Government’s Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme for providing large-scale training in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
In addition, the index commended Nigeria’s legal safeguards for children’s personal data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the General Application and Implementation Directive 2025, which strengthen protections against harmful automated decision-making involving children.
The latest recognition follows another international milestone earlier this year when Nigeria rose 31 places in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, reflecting improvements in AI policy and digital innovation.
The Federal Government says the latest ranking reinforces Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading centre for responsible artificial intelligence development, innovation and digital transformation in Africa.
