Communications minister, Bosun Tijani, has urged African leaders to collaborate on shared artificial intelligence infrastructure or risk being sidelined in the global economy.
Speaking at the opening of the GITEX Nigeria Summit in Abuja, a four-day technology event focused on advancing digital transformation and innovation, he warned that without coordinated action, AI could widen the productivity gap, leaving Africa further behind advanced economies.
Mr. Tijani pointed to agriculture as an example, noting Nigeria’s low maize yields compared with South Africa and Brazil, attributing the disparity to technology and AI-driven efficiency.
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He outlined four priorities for the continent: balancing sovereignty with collective governance, investing in youth skills, building local datasets, and expanding infrastructure such as the internet, computing power, and clean energy.
The minister also stressed that Africa’s youth remain its strongest asset, citing Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent initiative as a model for preparing the workforce for an AI-driven future.
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