The General Manager of Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Mr. Abideen Yusuf, stated on Tuesday that Nigeria is well-positioned to progress from its current “pockets of innovation” toward building a thriving Artificial Intelligence (AI) economy.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Lagos, Yusuf noted that AI could contribute over $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. He emphasized that Nigeria has a unique opportunity to emerge as a global leader in the field.
According to Yusuf, the country has the potential to shift from being merely a consumer of AI to becoming a producer of the technology for global markets, thereby driving both economic growth and innovation.
He pointed out that Lagos, as a leading tech hub with rapidly growing venture capital and startup activity, already demonstrates Nigeria’s capacity for AI-driven innovation.
“True economic growth will stem from making this technology broadly accessible across the nation,” Yusuf said.
He explained that building a strong AI economy requires a dual approach: cultivating a vibrant AI ecosystem and developing an AI-ready workforce.
A strong AI ecosystem, he said, begins with a solid foundation, particularly infrastructure such as reliable power and data centres. Yusuf added that companies like Microsoft are investing in essential components highlighting Africa’s first data centres and Edge Nodes in Nigeria which are designed to deliver faster networks and greater access to cloud services.
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Yusuf stressed the importance of sustained investment and collaboration between the public and private sectors to enhance advanced infrastructure and grow digital ecosystems. These partnerships, he said, are critical for turning data into advanced AI models and fostering widespread innovation.
He also highlighted the necessity of a skilled workforce in adopting emerging technologies. Noting that Africa is expected to account for 42 percent of the world’s youth by 2030, Yusuf said this gives Nigeria a significant demographic advantage.
He commended initiatives like the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s 3MTT programme, which aims to create two million digital jobs.
Yusuf emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in closing the skills gap and equipping Nigerians with the AI skills needed for the future. He cited collaborations with organisations such as the Wootlab Foundation, a non-profit group, as instrumental in launching focused AI training programmes.
