Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s highest-ranked country in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI), placing 38th out of 135 countries. The country accumulated an overall index score of 45.93 out of 100 to attain this ranking.
Mr. Isime Esene, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
The minister’s aide declared that the development underscored Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping the global conversation on the responsible, inclusive, and ethical development of Artificial Intelligence.
He said, “This marks a remarkable improvement from the inaugural 2024 edition of the Index, in which Nigeria ranked 80th globally with a score of 7.21, representing a rise of 42 places in just two years.
“The latest rankings places Nigeria ahead of every other African country assessed, with Egypt ranking second on the continent.”
According to him, this was also published by the Global Center on AI Governance. The Global Index on Responsible AI is the world’s most comprehensive evidence-based assessment of responsible AI governance.
“The Index evaluates countries across five key dimensions: Inclusion and Diversity; Ethics and Sustainability; Labour and Skills; Trust and Safety; and AI Use in Public Service,” he said.
Esene also explained that the ranking was based on extensive primary research and in-country assessments, adding that the Index measured the effectiveness of government frameworks, government actions, and non-state initiatives that support responsible AI ecosystems.
The minister’s aide further posited that it provided a robust benchmark of how countries were preparing for an AI-driven future.
He said that Nigeria’s improved performance reflected deliberate and strategic efforts by the Federal Government to position the country as an adopter of emerging technologies.
Under the President Bola Tinubu administration, he said Nigeria had accelerated initiatives to develop a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), strengthen digital public infrastructure, invest in digital talent, establish governance frameworks for emerging technologies, and deepen international partnerships.
Esene added, “All these will ensure that the benefits of AI are widely shared and responsibly deployed. These efforts have increasingly positioned Nigeria as one of the leading voices from the Global South on the future of AI governance and development.”
“The report recognised Nigeria as a global ‘Bright Spot’ for its efforts to advance AI literacy while strengthening protections for children in the digital age.”
The official equally said that the report specifically highlighted the national AI strategy, which called for increased AI literacy among all stakeholders.
According to him, the report mandated a comprehensive AI skills development programme, including teacher training and broad-based capacity building.
“The Index also cited the government’s Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme as a significant initiative delivering structured training in AI and machine learning through a hybrid model designed to reach young people across the country,” he said.
Esene disclosed that the report commended Nigeria’s legal and regulatory frameworks for children’s data protection, particularly the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID).
He said that the GAID established an enhanced safeguard for the processing of children’s personal data and prohibit decisions based solely on automated processing.
“These combined efforts position Nigeria as an example of how countries can simultaneously prepare their populations for an AI-driven future while protecting citizens, particularly children, from the potential harms associated with emerging technologies,” Esene said.
He said that Nigeria’s latest performance built on a series of strong international recognitions in the field of Intelligence and digital transformation.
He recalled that earlier this year, the country climbed 31 places in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, moving from 103rd to 72nd globally, reflecting significant progress in policy capacity and AI adoption readiness.
Esene quoted the minister, Dr Bosun Tijani, as saying that the recognition was a testament to Nigeria’s deliberate efforts to build an AI ecosystem that is inclusive, responsible, and aligned with its development priorities.
“We believe that Africa must not only participate in the AI revolution but also contribute meaningfully to shaping how these technologies are governed and deployed globally.
“Our focus remains on creating the infrastructure, talent, and policy environment that will enable AI to deliver real value for our people and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy,” he said.
