Lagos: Governance and technology stakeholders have urged Nigeria to anchor its Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption on governance and quality enterprise leadership to compete as a major player in the AI-driven global economy. They made the call on Tuesday in Lagos at the Centre for Enterprise Governance (CEG) Third Biennial Corporate Governance and Enterprise Development 2025 Conference.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed ‘Redefining Enterprise Leadership in a Changing Nigeria: Artificial Intelligence, Protectionism and Governance in Focus’, featured insights from various industry leaders. The Founder of CEG, Mr. Adeyinka Hassan, highlighted that 78 percent of companies worldwide have already adopted AI, with nearly half using it to harness big data. Hassan emphasized the risk of a digital divide and economic gulf if Africa fails to keep pace with global advancements.
Mr. Olatokunbo Talabi, Secretary to Ogun State Government, underscored that effective governance is crucial for enterprise development. He stressed the importance of transparent, accountable, and responsive governance for the thriving of enterprise leadership. Talabi also expressed Ogun State Government’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to advance to the next level of AI adoption.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, noted that Nigeria is working on laws and regulations to build its hyperscale data center and AI infrastructure in Africa. He highlighted the importance of digital technology sovereignty to enhance data control and minimize breaches.
Prof. Bolanle Oladejo from the University of Ibadan highlighted the transformative impact of AI on various sectors in Nigeria. She recommended developing a comprehensive AI regulatory framework and providing incentives to overcome cost barriers. Oladejo projected significant economic gains from AI, envisioning Nigeria’s AI market reaching $434.4 million by 2026.
Mrs. Olayemi Keri, Independent Non-Executive Director at First City Monument Bank, stressed that AI’s success would depend on its integration and alignment with business imperatives. She advised that AI adoption in Nigeria should focus on infrastructure, governance, and context-specific applications to address real-world problems, emphasizing the moral dimension of AI adoption.
