“Chasing the Trillion-Dollar Tech Boom!” — Nigeria Positions to Grab Massive Share of Africa’s $1tn AI Economy by 2035, Says SGF Akume

The Federal Government has set its sights on securing a dominant share of Africa’s projected $1 trillion artificial intelligence (AI) economy by 2035, committing to long-term policy reforms and digital infrastructure investments to establish Nigeria as a regional leader in emerging technology.

Disclosing the government’s strategic focus, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, stated that advanced digital systems—including artificial intelligence, blockchain, financial technology, and predictive analytics—are rapidly transforming economic models and governance frameworks across the globe.

Akume explained that continental economic projections point to AI contributing up to $1 trillion in additional gross domestic product across Africa over the next decade, with the largest productivity gains expected in high-impact sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and healthcare. To ensure Nigeria captures a substantial portion of this growth, the federal administration is implementing targeted interventions to build local capacity, upgrade national digital infrastructure, and foster an enabling environment for tech startups and research institutions.

Under the current digital transformation agenda, the government has accelerated human capital initiatives like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with critical skills in software engineering, data science, and AI deployment. This is complemented by nationwide broadband connectivity drives, investments in local data centers, and the development of a sovereign data governance framework to protect digital assets and spur homegrown innovation.

The SGF stressed that while digital innovation presents unprecedented opportunities for economic expansion, job creation, and operational efficiency, it also introduces complex vulnerabilities that require proactive oversight. He noted that modern governance must treat technology adoption and risk management as complementary pillars, ensuring that cybersecurity measures, ethical standards, and transparent regulatory frameworks evolve alongside emerging technologies.

Akume reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging its youthful population and vibrant startup ecosystem to shift from being a mere consumer of external technologies to a powerhouse that produces scalable, locally relevant AI solutions for the continent and the global market.