Grace Ashiru
A new report titled “The Digital Opportunity of Sub-Saharan Africa” highlights that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to contribute over $30 billion to the region’s economy within the next decade. Commissioned by Google and published by Public First, a policy, research, opinion, and strategy consultancy, the report underscores AI’s potential to boost productivity and introduce new goods and services that could significantly reshape crucial sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and fintech. Nigeria is positioning itself to spearhead Africa’s AI-driven transformation, with its government actively working on the development of a National AI Strategy.
On August 28, 2023, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed that he was compiling a list of Nigerian-born researchers to assist in co-creating a National AI Strategy. This initiative seeks to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence to address critical challenges while fostering economic growth.
By April 2024, the Nigerian government announced plans to recruit 120 researchers, startups, and stakeholders to collaborate with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in establishing a framework to drive AI adoption across the country.
That same month, the Kenyan government declared its intention to work with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to develop its own National Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy.
On September 10, 2024, the Federal Government, through Bosun Tijani, announced a partnership with Google to launch a ₦100 million fund aimed at empowering 10 Nigerian startups utilizing AI in their technology products to further drive AI innovation in Nigeria.
Google’s ongoing investment in Africa’s digital infrastructure is playing a pivotal role in accelerating the region’s transformation. According to the report, the tech giant’s $1 billion commitment has already generated $16 billion in economic activity across Africa in 2023 alone.
This infusion of capital, coupled with expanding Internet connectivity and cloud computing, is expected to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, opening new doors for Africa’s youth. With more than half of the continent’s population anticipated to gain Internet access within the next decade, AI has the potential to tackle some of Africa’s most urgent challenges while also boosting economic growth.
The report highlights that even a 1% increase in Internet connectivity could lead to a GDP increase of up to 6%. Additionally, the study forecasts that investments in digital technologies, particularly AI, mobile broadband, and cloud computing, will generate double the economic return for the region by 2030, with countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya projected to experience particularly strong returns.
