Nigeria is set to play a pivotal role in Africa's AI-driven economic growth, according to a new report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).
The report, titled "AI for Africa: Use Cases Delivering Impact - Nigeria Deep Dive," highlights the country's potential to unlock the transformative power of AI across key sectors, particularly agriculture and energy.
It follows a broader GSMA analysis that predicts AI applications could boost Africa's economy by $2.9 trillion by 2030. While Africa currently accounts for only 2.5% of the global AI market, Nigeria is positioned to be a leader in the continent's AI journey.
In agriculture, AI holds the potential to enhance productivity, improve food security, and empower smallholder farmers. AI-powered solutions like Crop2Cash's FarmAdvice and ThriveAgric's Agricultural Operating System are already providing tailored advice and financial services to Nigerian farmers.
In the energy sector, AI can address challenges like aging infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels, according to the GSMA. AI-enabled grid management platforms are emerging in Nigeria, promising to optimize energy usage and expand access to rural areas.