Despite having approximately 50,000 Artificial Intelligence (AI) workers, 200+ AI startups, 15 AI-focused universities, and 2,500 AI graduates each year, Nigeria still faces a significant skills deficit, with investment in the field increasing from $150 million in 2022 to $400 million in 2025.
This is revealed in a whitepaper titled "AI in Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategic Pathways," which was launched during Microsoft's ongoing AI Skills Week in Lagos.
The paper, published by Microsoft Nigeria in partnership with Lagos Business School and PwC, an auditing and consulting firm, examines the country's AI potential while highlighting major deficiencies in skills, infrastructure, and policy.
According to the whitepaper, despite encouraging development trends, the skills gap remains large, showing that the supply of job-ready AI specialists is still insufficient to fulfil the industry's demands.
“Developing and deploying AI systems requires skills in areas like machine learning, data engineering, and model optimisation, capabilities that remain scarce locally,” the report reads.
It went on to state that this talent gap is caused by the departure of qualified professionals and a lack of accessible, high-quality training designed exclusively for aspiring professionals.
Nonetheless, the report highlighted initiatives such as the Federal Ministry of Communication and digital Economy's 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent) program, Microsoft AI Skill Navigator, and other programs aimed at developing the next generation of AI professionals.
As a recommendation, the paper suggests that businesses provide training and upskilling opportunities to help workers see AI as a tool that improves their skills and opens up new career options.
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