The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Nigeria’s ambition to become a leader in ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) with the launch of the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Report.
The report, unveiled in Abuja, provides a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s preparedness to harness AI for economic growth, innovation and improved public service delivery while ensuring its development is guided by ethics, human rights and inclusivity.
Speaking at the launch on behalf of the UNESCO Abuja Office, the Officer-in-Charge, Dimitri Sanga, represented by the Head of Finance and Administration, Fatu Comfort Sumo, described the report as a milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He noted that artificial intelligence is transforming every aspect of modern society and stressed the need for countries to establish governance frameworks that place people at the centre of technological advancement.
“Today is a testament to an unwavering commitment to building strong AI governance and institutions where humanity and its unalienable values and principles are key in innovation and frontier technological development and deployment,” Sanga said.
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According to him, UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted unanimously by 193 member states in 2021, remains the first global normative framework for the responsible development and deployment of AI.
Sanga disclosed that UNESCO, with funding support from the European Union, has been assisting Nigeria since 2024 to strengthen digital infrastructure, policies and institutions through the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology initiative.
“This diagnostic report is not a destination. It is the beginning of informed decision-making and a reminder of what we can achieve through national strategy, governance frameworks, research, innovation and education for a human-centric AI,” he added.
Also speaking, UNESCO’s Chief of Section for Ethics of Science and Technology, Dafna Feinholz, described Nigeria as one of Africa’s pioneers in adopting the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology.
“Nigeria’s commitment to building an ethical AI future is remarkable. As one of the first countries in Africa to undertake the RAM, Nigeria has shown real leadership in placing values, rights and inclusion at the centre of its digital ambitions,” Feinholz said.
She noted that Nigeria’s youthful population, vibrant technology ecosystem and growing innovation community position the country to shape the future of AI across Africa and beyond.
Representing the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Ikram Tolba said the assessment showed that Nigeria already possesses many of the ingredients required to become a major AI player.
“Today, Nigeria’s AI readiness stands at 47.9, while ICT regulatory maturity ranks among Africa’s best. The bottleneck is not vision, regulation or talent. The bottleneck is infrastructure and capital access,” Tolba said.
She disclosed that the EU had exceeded its investment commitments under the EU-Nigeria Digital Economy Package, reaffirming the bloc’s support for Nigeria through research partnerships, AI standards development, advanced computing infrastructure and digital investment programmes.
“In 2025, we reached our goal of mobilising €860 million for digital infrastructure, identity, public services and skills development. With contributions from member states, total commitments reached approximately €1.6 billion. Europe brings regulatory credibility, research depth and capital access. Nigeria brings sovereign ambition, institutional capacity and market scale. Together, this partnership can be meaningful for both sides,” she said.
Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the National Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Dr Bunmi Ajala, described the report as a critical tool for measuring Nigeria’s progress and identifying areas requiring further investment.
He highlighted government efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure, including the planned 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic network and the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which aims to build one of the world’s largest digital talent pipelines.
According to Ajala, Nigeria’s ranking in the Global Government AI Readiness Index has improved significantly from 141st three years ago to 72nd, reflecting deliberate investments in governance, innovation and human capital development.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Joy Baderin, described the report as another milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation, saying it reflects a shared commitment to responsible innovation.
She said the Civil Service was ready to embrace artificial intelligence in governance and public administration as Nigeria deepens reforms aimed at modernising service delivery through emerging technologies.
“The launch of this report marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. It reflects our collective determination to harness the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence while ensuring that its deployment remains ethical, inclusive, transparent, and beneficial to all citizens,” she added.
Representatives of Galaxy Backbone Limited and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said Nigeria’s AI ambitions must be supported by robust digital infrastructure capable of hosting and securing national data. They stressed that AI governance must be closely aligned with data protection and privacy frameworks.
“The AI Readiness Assessment Methodology represents a timely and strategic instrument that enables nations to evaluate their preparedness for AI adoption while ensuring innovation remains anchored on ethics, human rights, governance, and sustainable development,” she said.
Stakeholders maintained that the report provides a roadmap for building a trusted, inclusive and competitive AI ecosystem capable of accelerating Nigeria’s socio-economic development and ensuring the responsible adoption of AI technologies.
The report is expected to guide policymakers, regulators, researchers, academia, civil society and the private sector in shaping an ethical and inclusive AI ecosystem that promotes innovation, economic growth and sustainable national development.
