Nigeria unveils plans for world’s first 'National AI Trust' in London
Minister Tijani sets out governance vision to guide Nigeria’s AI transformation
#Nigeria #governance – Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has launched his vision for a National AI Trust at a two-day convening hosted by Warwick Business School in London, describing it as the first institution of its kind in the world. The Trust, already approved by Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council, is designed to mobilise resources, guide responsible AI adoption and ensure strategic, ethical AI investment across key economic sectors. The London convening, organised in partnership with pan-African innovation hub Co-creation Hub (CcHUB) and the US-based MacArthur Foundation, brought together senior Nigerian government representatives, international AI experts, business leaders, academics and public interest groups to help shape the Trust’s design and governance framework.
SO WHAT? – Most African governments are still at the strategy document stage of AI governance and many have constrictive budget limitations. With the third largest GDP in Africa, Nigeria has the opportunity to go further and faster, but the government clearly recognises the the risks too. The government is forming a dedicated institutional body with trustee oversight, designed to provide sustainable stewardship of AI development beyond the electoral cycle. By creating an institution that outlasts the present government, governance will be able to take a longer-term view somewhat independent of politics. If Nigeria’s National AI Trust delivers on its promise, then it could become a governance model for other nations too.
KEY POINTS:
Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council has approved the creation of the National AI Trust, a proposed institution intended to mobilise resources, guide responsible AI adoption and ensure strategic and ethical AI investment across key economic sectors. As described by Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Hon. Dr. Bosun Tijani The Trust will be a first-of-its-kind institution.
Dr. Tijani led the London convening at Warwick Business School, his alma mater, as one of three co-creation workshops the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is holding to shape the Trust’s design. Tijani was named in Time Magazine’s 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential People in AI.
The Trust is envisioned as a body of trustees that will ensure AI development and deployment delivers broad-based economic and social value for all Nigerians. It will provide oversight and stewardship rather than direct operational control of AI systems or programmes.
A key design principle is institutional longevity beyond the present government. Tijani was explicit that the Trust must demonstrate impact and value to ensure it survives political transitions, framing governance continuity as foundational to Nigeria’s long-term AI competitiveness.
The convening was organised in partnership with CcHUB and the MacArthur Foundation, the US-based philanthropic organisation. Lagos and Nairobi-based CcHUB is the leading pan-African innovation ecosystem enabler, operating across more than 40 African countries.
The National AI Trust is designed to sit alongside Nigeria’s infrastructure investment agenda. Minister Tijani is simultaneously raising $2 billion for Project BRIDGE, an initiative to lay 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable network across Nigeria. The announcement of the Trust frames the government’s vision for governance and physical infrastructure as two equally essential and interdependent foundations for AI-led development.
Nigeria’s participation in the global AI race is framed explicitly as an African representation issue. Tijani argued that as AI systems expand globally, diverse contexts and perspectives must be embedded in their development: and that the National AI Trust can play a role in ensuring Africa’s voice is present in shaping how AI evolves internationally.
ZOOM OUT – The National AI Trust builds on the foundations laid by Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, launched in 2025. The strategy sets out the country’s vision to become a global leader in AI through ethical and inclusive innovation, local talent development and strategic international collaboration. It is structured around five pillars: building foundational AI infrastructure; developing a world-class AI ecosystem; accelerating AI adoption and sector transformation; ensuring responsible and ethical AI development; and establishing a robust AI governance framework. Underpinning these pillars are 34 specific strategies designed to drive economic growth and competitiveness, and improve social outcomes in healthcare, agriculture and education.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Source: Ministry of CIDE, Various
Read about other African AI strategies:
Libya launches National AI Strategy with 35 initiatives (Africa AI News)
Rwanda creates dedicated National AI Agency (Africa AI News)
Zimbabwe unpacks national AI strategy (Africa AI News)
Mozambique presents draft AI Strategy (Africa AI News)
Ghana launches AI strategy (Africa AI News)
Mauritius launches new National AI Strategy (Africa AI News)