Nigeria AI adoption: Experts urge urgent investment in skills, infrastructure, and regulation to harness AI in finance, healthcare, agriculture, and energy

Experts and advocates have urged Nigeria to take urgent steps to prepare for the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across key sectors, warning that the country risks falling behind without a coordinated national strategy.

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According to a statement made available to The PUNCH, AI Futures and Governance Reform Advocate Afolashade Jubrilla highlighted that AI is already transforming industries including fintech, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.

She noted that Nigeria faces significant gaps in digital skills, infrastructure, regulation, and strategic planning.

“AI is no longer a future concept; it is transforming economies and societies now,” Jubrilla said.

In the financial sector, AI is enabling banks and fintech firms to expand access to credit, detect fraud, and offer personalised services.

In healthcare, AI-powered diagnostic tools and predictive analytics are addressing medical personnel shortages and improving patient care.

Agricultural technologies are optimising planting cycles, reducing waste, and boosting productivity, while energy and urban systems benefit from predictive planning and smart management.

Jubrilla emphasised that these benefits will only be realised if Nigeria invests in human capital, strengthens digital infrastructure, implements ethical AI regulations, and fosters cross-sector collaboration.

She warned that without action, AI could exacerbate inequality rather than promote inclusion.

“Agritech startups are already using AI for predictive weather analytics and real-time decision-making, but access, digital literacy, and affordable connectivity remain barriers,” she said.

“If Nigeria invests strategically, AI can transform agriculture from subsistence to market-driven, climate-resilient, digitally enabled work.”

She added that AI is integral to modern energy management, predicting demand, optimising grid performance, and reducing operational waste.

Intelligent systems are also redefining infrastructure planning, from traffic flow optimisation to predictive maintenance in buildings and utilities.

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“For a country with growing urban populations and complex infrastructure needs, AI can enable efficient energy distribution, smart public utilities, data-driven urban planning, and predictive maintenance for transport networks,” Jubrilla said. “This is not futuristic tech; it is productive infrastructure policy in action.”