Microsoft Urges Nigeria to Operationalise AI for Impact

In Short

• Microsoft says Nigeria should shift from writing AI policies to deploying AI systems that deliver measurable results.
• The message was delivered at AI Summit Nigeria in Abuja, hosted with regulators and telecom partners.
• Both Microsoft and NITDA stressed responsible AI, including safety, fairness, privacy, and accountability.

What Happened

Microsoft is pushing Nigeria to operationalise AI, meaning turning policy documents into working tools used by government and businesses. AI, or artificial intelligence, is software that can analyse data and generate outputs like predictions, text, or decisions, similar to a junior analyst working at machine speed.

At the AI Summit Nigeria in Abuja, Microsoft’s West Africa Director of Government Affairs, Nonye Ujam, said the next phase should focus on real outcomes. She pointed to Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, data governance frameworks, and regulatory reforms as progress, but said impact will depend on implementation.

Ujam said scaling AI requires systems and infrastructure, plus institutional capacity, which means trained teams, clear processes, and the ability to manage AI across agencies. She also emphasised “trusted AI”, which means AI that is reliable and safe, treats people fairly, protects personal data, and can be audited.

Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency also reinforced the trust angle. NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Emmanuel Edet, said AI is a general-purpose technology, meaning it can be applied across sectors like identity, customs, health, education, and finance.

He added that Nigeria should pursue digital sovereignty, which means building and controlling more of its own AI capabilities instead of only consuming tools built elsewhere.

Why It Matters

For Nigerian startups and enterprises, the signal is clear. Policymaking is not the finish line. Government and large organisations are being nudged to run pilots, procure tools, and adopt AI in workflows.

For regulators, the summit highlights a practical priority. If trust and accountability rules do not keep up, AI adoption can stall due to public backlash, data misuse, or unclear liability when automated decisions go wrong.

For the wider ecosystem, “operationalising AI” could translate into more local AI projects, more demand for data infrastructure, and more contracts for Nigerian developers, cloud providers, and cybersecurity teams.