At the Third Lagos Forum 2026, key policy and industry leaders advocated for strategic artificial intelligence deployment to revitalize Nigeria’s core economic sectors—focusing heavily on small business growth, modernized agriculture, healthcare, education, and international trade.
Co-hosted by the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos alongside NACCIMA, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), and Zhejiang Normal University, the summit operated under the theme, “A People-Centred Approach to AI Governance: China–Nigeria Cooperation for Bridging the AI Divide.”
NACCIMA Director-General Sola Obadimu highlighted China’s rapid technological trajectory as a reference point for local adoption. He noted that unlocking AI’s full economic value requires substantial, long-term investments in national digital infrastructure, skills development, localized research, and cross-border public-private partnerships. Attendees emphasized that future AI policy frameworks must prioritize ethical governance, transparency, and broad access to prevent exacerbating existing digital divides.
