Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s highest-ranked country in the latest Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI), climbing 42 places to 38th globally in a performance the Federal Government says reflects its growing investment in artificial intelligence governance, digital skills and responsible innovation.

The latest ranking also recognises Nigeria as a global “Bright Spot” for advancing AI literacy and strengthening digital protections for children, highlighting the country’s ambition to become one of Africa’s leading voices in shaping the development and deployment of artificial intelligence.

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria recorded an overall score of 45.93 in the second edition of the Global Index on Responsible AI, a sharp improvement from its score of 7.21 in the inaugural 2024 assessment, when it ranked 80th globally.

The latest result places Nigeria ahead of every other African country assessed in the index, with Egypt following in second place on the continent.

Published by the Global Centre on AI Governance, the index evaluates countries across five key areas: inclusion and diversity, ethics and sustainability, labour and skills, trust and safety, and the use of artificial intelligence in public services.

The Federal Government attributed Nigeria’s rise to sustained investments in digital infrastructure, AI talent development, governance frameworks and international partnerships designed to encourage the responsible use of emerging technologies.

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Officials said the progress reflects ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to position Nigeria as a leading contributor from the Global South to international conversations on AI governance.

Reacting to the ranking, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, described the recognition as evidence of Nigeria’s deliberate strategy to build an AI ecosystem that supports economic development while ensuring innovation remains inclusive and responsible.

“This recognition is a testament to Nigeria’s deliberate efforts to build an AI ecosystem that is inclusive, responsible, and aligned with our 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,” he said.

Tijani added that the government would continue investing in infrastructure, digital skills and policies that enable artificial intelligence to deliver practical benefits for Nigerians while supporting President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of building a US$1 trillion economy.

Beyond the rankings, the report singled out Nigeria as a global “Bright Spot” for initiatives aimed at improving AI literacy and protecting vulnerable groups in the digital environment.

Among the programmes highlighted was the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which promotes AI education, teacher training and broader capacity development, alongside the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which equips young Nigerians with practical skills in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The report also recognised Nigeria’s data protection framework, particularly the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025, for introducing stronger safeguards for children’s personal data and limiting decisions based solely on automated systems.

The latest achievement adds to Nigeria’s recent progress in global digital competitiveness. Earlier this year, the country climbed 31 places in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, moving from 103rd to 72nd globally, reinforcing its growing reputation as one of Africa’s emerging leaders in responsible artificial intelligence and digital innovation.

Meiza Nigeria