Nigeria’s fight against poverty may find an unlikely ally in artificial intelligence. At a recent public forum in Abuja, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders argued that if applied strategically, AI could become one of the country’s most powerful tools for achieving the United Nations’ goal of eradicating poverty in all its forms.
Speakers at the 4th Gilbert Onyemaelu Leadership and Diversity (GOLD) Lecture, hosted by the AEO Foundation, urged leaders to stop treating AI as a buzzword and begin embedding it into sectors where it can change lives.
Prof. Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School, called for practical deployment in agriculture, health, and other areas that directly affect livelihoods. Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, Chancellor of Baze University, pushed for AI integration in education to prepare Nigeria’s workforce for the future.
Government agencies echoed these calls. NITDA’s Director-General, Kachifu Inuwa Abdullahi, highlighted the newly launched National AI Strategy, designed to position Nigeria for the emerging digital economy.
Private-sector leaders added their perspectives: Flexip Group’s Rex Mafiana linked AI adoption to entrepreneurship growth, while NIGCOMSAT’s Jane Egerton-Idehen emphasized its relevance for rural communities often left behind by development. Experts also underscored that reliable data and ethical safeguards must accompany any poverty-focused AI policy.
Beyond speeches, the AEO Foundation unveiled youth-oriented leadership and enterprise initiatives, reinforcing the belief that technology must work hand-in-hand with human capital.
While challenges remain — from infrastructure gaps to the risk of deepening inequalities — the consensus was clear: AI, if responsibly harnessed, could help shift Nigeria’s poverty fight from survival strategies to long-term solutions.
