As Nigeria marks the start of 2026, the conversation around technology has shifted from merely consuming foreign tools to building a sovereign AI ecosystem. Kehinde Opara, a senior software engineer at Upperlink Limited, has issued a compelling call to action: Nigeria must treat Artificial Intelligence not just as a “software trend,” but as critical infrastructure—on par with electricity and the internet.
This vision aligns with the Federal Government’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), released in September 2025, which serves as the blueprint for Nigeria’s leap into the “epoch of technological empowerment.”
1. Local Talent, Local Solutions
Opara emphasizes that the high cost of importing and maintaining foreign tech solutions is a drain on the national economy. The goal for 2026 is Localization:
-
Applied AI: Moving beyond Western models to build AI tailored for Nigerian fintech, agritech, and logistics.
-
The “Level Playing Field”: AI tools are now enabling solo Nigerian engineers and small teams to build products at a fraction of the traditional cost and time, effectively neutralizing resource limitations.
2. Educational Revolution: The HND Leap
A significant milestone in late 2025 was the Federal Government’s introduction of specialized Higher National Diploma (HND) programs. This unbundling of traditional computer science aims to create a dedicated pipeline of experts in:
-
Artificial Intelligence
-
Cybersecurity
-
Software Engineering
-
Networking
“Africa does not need permission to lead in AI. We just need to build it, and now.” — Kehinde Opara, AI Expert
3. The 2031 Forecast: The Rise of the African AI Unicorn
Looking ahead five years to 2031, the tech community predicts a radical transformation of the Nigerian landscape:
-
Homegrown Foundation Models: AI models trained specifically on African data, nuance, and languages.
-
AI Agent Economy: Widespread use of autonomous AI agents running operations for millions of small businesses (SMEs).
-
Applied AI Leadership: Nigeria and Africa leading the global market in “Applied AI” specifically designed for emerging economies.
Strategic Priorities for 2026
To reach the 2031 vision, Opara and other stakeholders identify four non-negotiable investments: | Priority Area | Action Required | | :— | :— | | Data Sovereignty | Investing in local data creation, ownership, and African-centric datasets. | | Compute Power | Building affordable, localized high-performance computing infrastructure. | | Policy & Ethics | Creating enabling policies that encourage innovation while ensuring responsible AI. | | Collaboration | Fostering Pan-African partnerships to share research and scale solutions across borders. |
Expert Advice for the “Solo Engineer”
For those looking to ride the 2026 AI wave, the message is clear: Technical brilliance is not enough. To succeed, innovators must:
-
Master the Tools: Gain deep proficiency in current AI frameworks.
-
Solve “Everyday” Problems: Focus on challenges unique to the Nigerian environment.
-
Communicate the Vision: Learn the art of “selling” technology to secure funding and users.
-
Give Back: Contribute to open-source projects and document the development journey.
