Nigeria wants to lead the world in artificial intelligence governance. The country is building what officials call a National AI Trust to manage how the nation adopts, regulates and invests in AI technology.
Bosun Tijani unveiled the plan at Warwick Business School in London this week. The communications minister gathered policymakers, tech experts, academics, business leaders and civil society figures for a two-day discussion.
According to Tijani, the Trust will create rules that let Nigeria benefit from AI while protecting people. It'll tackle worries about accountability, fairness and whether gains last long-term.
"We aim to become a standard bearer for the world," he told the gathering. "AI is becoming the operating system for global competition and business evolution."
Governments worldwide are scrambling to regulate AI as concerns grow about job losses, privacy breaches and security risks. Nigeria's move fits into a larger push by the federal government to modernise the economy.
Project BRIDGE, a $2 billion scheme, will lay 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable across Nigeria. The infrastructure push aims to bring faster internet access to more communities and support innovation.
But Tijani stressed that pipes and cables alone won't be enough. Good governance will determine whether AI actually helps ordinary Nigerians, he explained.
"The competitiveness of any society starts with governance," Tijani noted during the conference. He added: "If the Trust can demonstrate impact, it will outlive any single administration."
African voices need a seat at the table where AI rules are written, Tijani argued. "Representation in AI is crucial for Africa—we need voices beyond the US and the West shaping these systems," he said.
Andy Lockett, dean at Warwick Business School, backed the Nigerian initiative. He called AI governance vital not just for Africa but for every nation trying to harness the technology's power.
"It is vital for nations worldwide," Lockett told reporters at the event. "At Warwick Business School, influencing policy and practice has been central to our mission since our founding."
Co-creation Hub and the MacArthur Foundation partnered on the convening. The collaboration shows a push to bring government, private sector and civil society together on AI policy.
Tijani believes the Trust will help Nigeria compete globally in the digital economy. It'll set up the framework needed to back innovation, pull in investment and ensure AI develops responsibly.
