Nigeria Named Africa's Top Country for Responsible AI

Nigeria has emerged as the leading country in Africa for the responsible governance of artificial intelligence, according to the latest Global Index on Responsible AI.

The country made a significant leap on the world stage, climbing 42 places in two years to move from 80th in 2024 to 38th globally.

With a score of 45.93 out of 100, Nigeria finished ahead of every other African country assessed, with Egypt ranking second on the continent.

The ranking is published by the Global Centre on AI Governance, an independent research group based in South Africa. The index assessed 135 countries across five dimensions: inclusion and diversity, ethics and sustainability, labour and skills, trust and safety, and AI use in public service. It measures how effectively governments and other institutions are building the frameworks and safeguards needed to develop and deploy AI responsibly.

The recognition feeds into Nigeria's broader economic ambitions. The government has tied its digital and AI agenda to President Bola Tinubu's stated goal of building a $1 trillion economy, positioning responsible AI governance as part of the case for attracting global investors and tech talent.

The report named Nigeria a global "Bright Spot," praising the country for balancing efforts to build tech skills with protections for vulnerable citizens, particularly children.

Much of the progress comes down to deliberate government planning. The report highlighted Nigeria's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which calls for greater AI literacy among all stakeholders and a comprehensive skills programme, including teacher training.

It also cited the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, a major initiative delivering structured training in AI and machine learning to young people across the country through a hybrid model.

Alongside the skills push, Nigeria has strengthened its safeguards. The report pointed to the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025, which establish enhanced protections for children's personal data and prohibit decisions made solely based on automated processing.

Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said the ranking reflects the country's deliberate work to build an AI ecosystem that is inclusive and responsible. He added that Africa must not only participate in the AI revolution but also help shape how these technologies are governed and deployed globally.

The result builds on other recent recognitions. Earlier this year, Nigeria climbed 31 places in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, moving from 103rd to 72nd globally, a separate ranking that tracks how prepared governments are to deploy AI in public services.