Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Nigeria has been ranked 72nd out of 188 countries in the 2025 Government Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness Index, solidifying its position as one of the top-performing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa in preparing for the integration of AI into government and public services. The annual global assessment, compiled by Oxford Insights, evaluates how ready governments are to harness AI responsibly and effectively across a range of public sector domains, signalling a shift in Nigeria’s strategic focus toward technology-enabled governance and innovation.
The Government AI Readiness Index is widely recognised as a leading benchmark for assessing national preparedness to adopt, govern and scale artificial intelligence technologies. It examines 195 governments across 69 indicators spanning six key pillars: policy capacity, governance, AI infrastructure, public sector adoption, development and diffusion, and resilience. These domains collectively gauge how effectively nations are positioning themselves for AI-enabled transformation in public services, economic development, and regulatory frameworks.
Nigeria’s placement at 72nd globally reflects notable progress across several dimensions of AI readiness, underpinned by recent policy initiatives, investments in AI ecosystems, and expanding efforts to translate strategic ambitions into practical action. It also places the country fourth within Sub-Saharan Africa, trailing regional peers such as Kenya (65th), South Africa (67th), and Mauritius (71st), but ahead of many others across the continent.
Analysts say Nigeria’s rise in the global rankings is the result of sustained strategic efforts over recent years to embed AI into national development planning and public policy. The government’s increasing emphasis on digital innovation has seen the development of detailed AI policy documents, frameworks for cross-sector collaboration, and initiatives designed to grow domestic AI capacity. These include the launch of specialised research hubs and scaling programmes aimed at nurturing homegrown talent, operationalising data systems, and encouraging private-sector participation.
In the index’s Policy Capacity dimension, which measures the strength of national AI strategies, institutional frameworks, and cross-government alignment, Nigeria scored exceptionally well, ranking 35th globally. Similarly, the Development and Diffusion pillar — which evaluates human capital, the maturity of AI sectors, and technology dissemination — placed Nigeria within the top 50 globally, highlighting the country’s expanding technological base and innovation ecosystem.
Despite these advances, the report underscores that readiness is uneven. Nigeria’s performance reflects an “AI agility gap” common across many emerging economies, where strategic policy progress is not always matched by widespread public sector adoption or robust foundational infrastructure. Challenges such as limited high-speed connectivity, gaps in essential digital and energy systems, and slower integration of AI solutions into everyday public services continue to temper broader readiness.
Nigeria’s ranking resonates beyond its borders. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, only a handful of countries have cracked the top 100 in the index, reflecting structural and infrastructural constraints that many nations in the region face. While North Africa generally leads the continent — with countries like Egypt and Tunisia showing strong performance — Nigeria’s ascent within the southern and western African context underscores its influence and potential in shaping the region’s AI landscape.
Ten African countries made the global top 100 in this year’s index, highlighting both progress and persistent disparities. While some nations have rapidly developed comprehensive AI strategies and implemented enabling policies, others lag due to limited resources, slower regulatory development, or uneven ecosystem maturity. Nigeria’s place near the upper end of the ranking reflects a commitment to change that officials, technologists, and policy experts believe is gaining momentum.
The Nigerian government has been explicit about its ambitions to embed AI into national development goals. Recent policy directions stress the importance of creating an enabling environment for private-sector innovation, enhancing educational pipelines for tech talent, and strengthening regulatory frameworks to manage AI adoption responsibly. This includes detailed roadmaps for national AI strategies and initiatives such as the Nigeria AI Scaling Hub, which aims to catalyse AI development across sectors.
At the political level, senior officials have also reinforced the importance of AI in economic transformation. Leaders articulate a vision of Nigeria not merely as a consumer of foreign AI technologies, but as a contributor to global innovation platforms and research agendas. Investment in local talent, data governance frameworks, and multi-stakeholder partnerships are central to this vision.
Nigeria’s strengths in the 2025 index largely revolve around policy design, institutional frameworks, and emerging innovation ecosystems. The country’s large and youthful population, coupled with vibrant tech hubs in cities like Lagos and Abuja, positions it well to cultivate a new generation of AI researchers, developers, and entrepreneurs. There has also been growth in AI-focused startups and research collaborations that contribute to the developmental pillar of the readiness framework.
However, significant gaps remain, particularly in AI infrastructure and public sector adoption — two pillars critical for ensuring that AI benefits reach everyday citizens. Weaknesses in foundational digital infrastructure, such as reliable broadband access and data centre capacity — issues common across many African markets — can slow the practical deployment of AI applications in areas like agriculture, healthcare, and public service delivery.
Experts point out that while policy documents and institutional frameworks are essential, they must be matched by investment in scalable infrastructure, workforce development, and pilot projects that demonstrate measurable public impact. Bridging these gaps is seen as key to unlocking further improvements in future AI readiness assessments.
The implications of Nigeria’s improved ranking extend into multiple sectors. AI has the potential to enhance the efficiency of public services, streamline regulatory compliance, optimise urban planning, and support data-driven decision-making in critical sectors like health and education. Effective AI governance also involves ethical considerations, protection of citizens’ data rights, and robust oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse.
Nigeria’s performance in the index suggests that the country is laying the groundwork for such developments, even as it confronts the broader challenges common to emerging economies. The trajectory of its AI readiness could influence national priorities around digital literacy, research funding, and cross-sector partnerships.
As Nigeria builds on this year’s achievements, stakeholders emphasise the importance of moving from strategy to implementation. This includes enhancing public sector capacity to deploy AI applications responsibly, investing in digital infrastructure that broadens access, and fostering inclusive frameworks that ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared. Future editions of the Government AI Readiness Index will likely reflect how well these transitions are managed.
For now, Nigeria’s 72nd-place ranking stands as a testament to its growing stature in the global AI landscape and signals a growing readiness to navigate the complex intersections of technology, governance, and development.
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