Nigerian Government Seeks More AI Investment to Drive Digital Economy

Nigeria’s government wants artificial intelligence investment to do more than improve connectivity. It is presenting AI as part of a broader effort to build domestic digital capacity, protect data sovereignty and create technology for export.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume made the call Monday at the opening of the GITEX Nigeria 2026 Government Leadership and AI Summit in Abuja. Speaking through Permanent Secretary Bekearedebo Warrens, he said the country must move beyond consuming technology developed elsewhere.

“Not merely as a consumer of technology, but as a builder, producer and exporter of digital solutions and artificial intelligence,” Akume said. He linked that goal to reforms in digital identity and to changes involving the National Identity Management Commission framework, which he said would strengthen the management and security of Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure.

The government is also pursuing Project Bridge, a plan to deploy about 90,000 kilometres of fiber-optic infrastructure across states, local government areas and wards. Telecommunications infrastructure would complement the project by extending broadband access to millions of people in underserved communities.

Akume cited the 3 Million Technical Talent program as another part of the strategy. It has recorded about 1.87 million registrations across all 774 local government areas, while more than 125,000 Nigerians have received training in fields including cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity and software engineering.

The newly unveiled National Digital Cloud Policy aims to attract $750 million in private investment in cloud and data infrastructure over the next 24 months. The government says the policy, Project Bridge and the training program are intended to connect infrastructure, skills, public-sector demand and private investment within a stronger domestic technology ecosystem. Akume called on institutions, investors, developers and innovators to use GITEX Nigeria for practical partnerships.

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Not merely as a consumer of technology, but as a builder, producer and exporter of digital solutions and artificial intelligence.