Bosun Tijani’s AI Vision: Nigeria Leads The Race of Africa’s Digital Future

Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has seen the future, and it speaks the language of Artificial Intelligence. Fresh from the AI Action Summit in France, he isn’t just returning with notes from high-level meetings—he’s bringing back a bold ambition: to place Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s AI revolution.

This just isn’t about technology for Tijani; it’s about positioning Nigeria as a leader in the global digital economy. He sat with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and President Bola Tinubu, not for pleasantries, but to discuss real investment, real strategy, and real transformation. AI is moving fast, and Tijani knows Africa cannot afford to be a spectator.

An African summit on AI is a necessity. Tijani has spent his career building innovation ecosystems, from CcHUB to driving policy at the ministerial level. He understands that if Nigeria doesn’t step up now, others will set the pace.

Remove all the fancy algorithms and futuristic jargon usually associated with AI. Tijani’s plan sees jobs, industry, and national competitiveness, with AI improving governance, unlocking new business models, and boosting economic growth. All hands are already on deck to keep Africa from just consuming AI instead of actively building and shaping its future.

At the AI Action Summit in France, ethics, inclusivity, and regulation dominated the discussions. But it was clearly a wakeup call for Tijani. If AI will benefit Nigerians, it must come through our languages and cultures, and help address unique challenges. It’s why linguistic diversity in AI is a topic he won’t let slip through the cracks.

Organising an African AI summit means Nigeria must lead from the front. Leave conference hosting for others. Tijani is interested in bringing global players to the table while building Africa’s own AI talent and research ecosystem.

With AI on the driver’s seat of global industries, Tijani is determined that Africa won’t be left behind. With his track record, one thing is certain: this is a plan in motion. And if he succeeds, Nigeria won’t just participate in the AI era—it will help define it.