The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has called on African nations to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) or risk being left behind in global digital development.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the 2025 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), themed “Building Continental Digital Foundations for Equitable AI Development,” Tijani stressed the need for urgent investment in digital infrastructure to support AI adoption across the continent.
“If we are not delivering, AI will widen the gap between nations around productivity. Countries that are already ahead will move even faster, and those still catching up will find it even more difficult,” he warned.
The minister cautioned that Africa could remain a consumer continent, dependent on imports for food, services and innovation if it fails to adopt new technologies. He noted that while AI could disrupt jobs, it would also create new opportunities, making it critical to equip young people through initiatives such as Clean Energy for Talent.
Highlighting examples, Tijani pointed to South Africa, where farmers are using satellite imaging, drones, and AI models to monitor crops in real time. By contrast, many farmers elsewhere in Africa still rely on guesswork and traditional practices, leading to lower productivity.
“The result is that farmers in other regions are producing four to five times more food on the same land,” he said, adding that Africa’s competitiveness is at risk without AI integration.
Earlier, Executive Vice President of Dubai Trade Centre, Trixie LohMirmand, said GITEX served as a global digital ecosystem, stressing the importance of strong public-private partnerships. She urged Nigeria to secure a firm place in the global AI economy, describing the country as one defined by “the scale of opportunities of tomorrow.”
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, also underscored the need for Africa to build human capital, strengthen frameworks and develop infrastructure to lead in the AI revolution.
“Africa has the talent and a digitally native population. With the right investment in people, we can position ourselves to be leaders in this revolution,” Abdullahi said.
