Stakeholders Demand Greater Investment in Local Talent, Intelligence to Drive Nigeria’s AI Revolution
Michael Olugbode in Abuja Stakeholders in Nigeria’s technology sector have called for accelerated investment in local talent, intelligence and innovation as the country seeks to harness artificial intelligence (AI) and
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s technology sector have urged for increased investment in local talent, intelligence, and innovation as the country aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing for economic growth and reduce reliance on imported technologies. At the Huawei Nigeria AI and Cloud Summit 2026 held in Lagos on August 27, industry leaders, government representatives, and technology experts discussed strategies to position Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s burgeoning AI economy.
The summit, themed "Built Local, Built Intelligent," emphasized the need for the development of home-grown technological solutions to address Nigeria’s unique economic and social challenges. Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, representing the Lagos State Deputy Governor, emphasized that Nigeria cannot continue to be a passive consumer of technology, as AI and cloud computing are rapidly transforming global economies.
He argued that the country’s technological advancement must be rooted in locally developed solutions, enhanced domestic expertise, and increased ownership of digital infrastructure. Hamzat stressed that temporary technological imports are not sustainable, while locally created, owned, and enhanced innovations are more enduring and multiplying.
He also clarified that fostering local technology does not imply isolation from the global ecosystem, but rather enables Nigeria to collaborate with international partners on its terms for mutual benefit. AI and cloud technologies, according to Hamzat, have transitioned from theoretical concepts to practical tools capable of revolutionizing critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, public administration, and national security.
They are also poised to create jobs, particularly for Nigeria’s sizable youth population. Austin You, Huawei Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, spoke about the company’s 27-year presence in Nigeria, focusing on digital transformation via telecommunications, data centers, renewable energy, skills development, and cloud services. You highlighted Huawei's contribution to expanding Nigeria’s technological workforce, training over 100,000 Nigerians and establishing more than 250 ICT academies.
He underscored Nigeria’s potential as a leader in Africa’s AI sector, citing its large population, expanding market, digital infrastructure, and human capital. Huawei unveiled the Huawei Nigeria Agentic Cloud, a platform tailored to meet Nigeria’s growing demand for AI and cloud services while respecting data sovereignty, privacy, and compliance.
The platform’s three pillars include AI democratization, data localization, and trust and security. Demonstrations of AI-native solutions in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and AI agents underscored the rising impact of intelligent technologies in reshaping industries and public services. The summit reiterated that Nigeria’s competitiveness in the emerging AI-driven global economy hinges not only on access to advanced technologies but also on its ability to cultivate, own, and deploy local talent, intelligence, and infrastructure.
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