Technology experts and digital economy stakeholders have warned that Nigeria could remain a consumer of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies unless urgent investments are made in local infrastructure, data centres, and indigenous innovation.
The warning was issued during a panel session at the West Africa Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (WATISE 4.0) held in Lagos.
Participants at the summit stressed the need for Nigeria to shift from reliance on foreign AI platforms to building domestic capacity in computing infrastructure, cloud services, and AI model development.
The session focused on the theme: “The Resilient AI Fabric: Trust, Integrity and Sustainability in Next Generation Network Infrastructure.”
Stakeholders said strengthening local digital ecosystems is critical for Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness in the global AI economy.
Chief Operating Officer of WTES Group, Mr Chidi Ajuzie, said Nigeria remains heavily dependent on foreign providers for cloud computing, chipsets, and AI platforms.
He warned that this dependency increases costs and limits innovation capacity within the country.
Ajuzie urged increased investment in AI-ready infrastructure, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and local talent development.
According to him, Nigeria must begin developing indigenous AI models that reflect African languages, culture, and real-world conditions.
Also speaking, Mr Seun Olorunnisola of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) said localising internet traffic is essential for improving AI performance and digital service delivery.
He explained that keeping data within Nigeria would reduce latency, improve speed, and enhance user experience across digital platforms.
Olorunnisola also called for the expansion of data centres and computing infrastructure to support future AI workloads and advanced model training.
Director of Strategic Business Initiatives at ipNX, Mr Olusola Teniola, emphasised the need for accessibility, affordability, and availability in Nigeria’s AI adoption strategy.
He said Nigeria must build confidence in developing homegrown AI solutions instead of depending entirely on imported technologies.
Teniola added that strong telecommunications infrastructure is critical for financial inclusion, digital transformation, and economic growth.
He also called for stronger protection of telecom infrastructure from vandalism to ensure stable digital services.
Speaking on financial inclusion, Mr Stephen Adeoye, National Secretary of the Association of Financial Inclusion Agents of Nigeria (AFIAN), said AI is already improving fraud detection and service delivery in the financial sector.
He noted that banks and fintech companies are increasingly using AI tools for transaction monitoring, credit assessment, and customer verification.
Adeoye also stressed the importance of digital literacy to ensure safe and responsible use of emerging technologies.
Stakeholders collectively agreed that Nigeria’s ability to compete in the global AI-driven economy will depend on investment in infrastructure, skills development, and local innovation ecosystems.
They urged government and private sector collaboration to accelerate digital transformation and reduce dependence on foreign technology platforms.
