Nigeria is launching a strategic push to develop an AI governance framework that prioritizes equitable access and responsible innovation, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for partnerships that bridge Africa's digital divide. At the third Lagos Forum 2026, held in partnership with China's government and leading African research institutions, experts outlined how Nigeria can harness artificial intelligence for socio-economic development while addressing critical challenges around ethics, data security, and global digital inequality.

Why Does Nigeria Need Its Own AI Governance Framework?

As artificial intelligence becomes one of the defining technologies of our time, the question for Nigeria is no longer whether AI will reshape society, but how to govern it responsibly. The country faces significant gaps that must be addressed before it can fully benefit from AI innovation. These challenges span multiple areas that require coordinated policy and investment.

• Digital Infrastructure Gaps: Nigeria lacks the foundational technology systems needed to support widespread AI development and deployment across industries and public services.
• Technical Expertise Shortage: The country needs more trained professionals who understand AI development, deployment, and governance to build local capacity.
• Research Capacity Limitations: Universities and research institutions require funding and resources to conduct cutting-edge AI research relevant to African challenges.
• Regulatory Framework Deficits: Nigeria currently lacks comprehensive policies that address ethics, privacy, cybersecurity, transparency, and accountability in AI systems.
• Investment Constraints: Significant capital is needed to fund AI infrastructure, education, and innovation ecosystems across the country.

"As AI has rapidly become one of the defining technologies of this age, there are equally significant challenges relating to ethics, privacy, cybersecurity, transparency, accountability, and the future of work," stated Professor Femi Otubanjo, representing the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Professor Femi Otubanjo, Professor of International Relations, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs

For Nigeria, AI presents a genuine opportunity to accelerate development, improve how government services reach citizens, and enhance the country's competitiveness on the global stage. However, realizing this potential requires addressing these structural gaps through deliberate policy and international cooperation.

How Can Nigeria and China Build an AI Partnership That Benefits Africa?

Stakeholders at the forum emphasized that cooperation between Nigeria and China goes beyond simply transferring technology from one country to another. Instead, they outlined a comprehensive approach that includes multiple dimensions of collaboration designed to build sustainable AI capacity across Africa.

• Collaborative Research: Joint research initiatives between Nigerian and Chinese institutions can tackle AI challenges specific to African contexts and develop solutions tailored to local needs.
• Capacity Building Programs: Training and educational opportunities help Nigerian professionals develop expertise in AI development, governance, and implementation.
• Digital Infrastructure Development: Investment in physical and digital infrastructure creates the foundation for AI innovation and deployment.
• Policy Dialogue and Governance Frameworks: Ongoing conversations between governments and institutions establish ethical, transparent, secure, and inclusive AI governance standards.

China has positioned itself as one of the world's leading AI innovators, while Nigeria offers a large, youthful population and a dynamic technology ecosystem. The combination of China's technical expertise and Nigeria's human capital and market potential creates a compelling foundation for partnership.

"China's AI development principles include openness, innovation, security, inclusiveness, and global governance, and China proposed the Global AI governance initiative and promoted international cooperation on AI," emphasized Yan Yuqing, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Lagos.

Yan Yuqing, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Lagos

The Consul General also noted that China plans to provide developing countries with AI training and seminar opportunities over the next five years, signaling a long-term commitment to building AI capacity across the Global South.

What Role Do Universities Play in Africa's AI Future?

Educational institutions emerged as critical players in building Africa's AI ecosystem. Experts stressed that training the next generation of African technologists, policymakers, and researchers is essential for the continent's involvement in AI infrastructure and governance.

Universities in Nigeria and China are advancing this mission through cooperative educational efforts that expose students to cutting-edge AI research and development. These partnerships create pathways for African talent to engage with global AI innovation while remaining rooted in solving local problems.

"Rapid technological development is causing significant global changes, which are impacting how humans interact, stressing the need for partnership and capacity building for Africa's involvement in AI infrastructure," noted Professor Efem Ubi, Lecturer at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University.

Professor Efem Ubi, Lecturer, Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University

The emphasis on education reflects a broader recognition that Africa's AI future depends not just on importing technology, but on developing homegrown expertise that understands both global AI principles and local African contexts.

What Are the Broader Implications for Global AI Governance?

Nigeria's push for a people-centered AI governance framework signals a shift in how developing nations approach technology policy. Rather than passively adopting governance models designed elsewhere, Nigeria is asserting its right to shape AI rules that reflect African values and priorities.

The forum also highlighted concerns about how some countries use national security arguments to restrict technology imports, a practice that can deepen global digital inequality. Experts argued that technology should benefit everyone, and that AI governance frameworks must be designed to promote equitable access rather than entrench existing power imbalances.

As African countries emerge as key engines for AI development, the governance frameworks they establish now will influence how AI evolves across the continent for decades to come. Nigeria's collaborative approach with China, centered on capacity building and inclusive policymaking, offers a model for how developing nations can participate meaningfully in shaping the global AI landscape.