Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has been named by TIME Magazine as one of the world’s most influential leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI).
The list, released on Thursday, highlights global innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers advancing AI. Other figures featured include Elon Musk, founder of xAI; Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta; Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon; and Matthew Prince, co-founder of Cloudflare.
Reacting to the recognition in a post on X, Tijani said the honour reflects Nigeria’s growing role in AI development. “This honour is a reflection of the collective effort of innovators and partners who believe in the potential of AI to transform societies,” he wrote.
Tijani noted that over the past two years, Nigeria designed its National AI Strategy (NAIS) in collaboration with more than 120 Nigerian experts worldwide. Pilot projects, he said, have already demonstrated the use of AI in healthcare, agriculture, education, and financial inclusion.
He also pointed to partnerships with Google and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to scale local AI innovations, as well as initiatives like the AI Collective, supported by Luminate Group, and the AI Trust, which works to secure investments in responsible AI development.
“Our journey in AI over the last two years has been transformative,” Tijani said. “The recognition from TIME reinforces Nigeria’s position as a potential global leader in the responsible and inclusive use of AI.”
The minister reaffirmed his commitment to aligning AI innovation with President Bola Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy.
