Nigeria’s AI future depends on stronger telecom networks, local internet traffic, experts say

Nigeria’s ability to compete in the global artificial intelligence (AI) economy will depend largely on the strength of its telecommunications infrastructure and its capacity to keep more internet traffic and digital services within its borders, industry experts have warned. The experts, who spoke at the West Africa Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (WATISE) 4.0 in Lagos on Thursday, said AI development cannot thrive without reliable broadband networks, local data hosting facilities and stronger internet exchange systems capable of supporting growing computing demands. Speaking during a panel session themed, “The Resilient AI Fabric: Trust, Integrity and Sustainability in Next Generation Network Infrastructure,” industry leaders argued that while Nigeria has shown increasing interest in AI adoption, the country still lacks critical infrastructure needed to move from being a technology consumer to a producer of AI-driven solutions. Chidi Ajuzie, chief operating officer of WTES Group, said Nigeria’s future in AI would be determined by investments in connectivity, digital literacy, local hosting facilities and AI-ready infrastructure. Read also: Why Nigeria’s population boom is fueling data centre gold rush