LAGOS, Nigeria — September 18, 2025.
West African businesses are accelerating their digital transformation journey, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and data-driven technologies to compete in a fast-changing global economy. This shift was highlighted at SAP Business Suite Innovation Day in Lagos, where regional leaders, technology experts, and SAP executives explored how AI-powered solutions are reshaping the way businesses operate.
Building an AI-Ready Business Foundation
Shiraz Khota, Managing Director: Emerging Africa at SAP, emphasized that enterprises in the region are no longer experimenting with digital tools — they are actively embedding AI into their core operations.
“From collaborative AI agents solving complex problems to seamless value chain integration, West Africa’s business community is preparing to unlock its full potential powered by cloud, data, and AI,” Khota said.
The showcase highlighted SAP Business Data Cloud and SAP Business AI as central to building this transformation — enabling organisations to work with reliable, contextual data while deploying AI to drive faster, more confident decision-making.
Case Study: Dangote’s Cloud-Driven Growth
One of the strongest signals of this shift came from Dangote Industries Limited, the region’s largest conglomerate. Speaking at the event, Juzar Badami, Group Head of the SAP Centre of Excellence, described how Dangote is harnessing SAP’s cloud ecosystem to scale efficiently.
“A modernised ERP landscape built on a clean-core strategy is essential to unlocking the full potential of AI. With real-time data, organisations like ours can move faster, innovate confidently, and sustain growth in today’s high-pressure market,” Badami explained.
Skills: The Missing Link in AI Transformation
While technology adoption is advancing, the talent challenge remains critical. Titilayo Adewumi, SAP Nigeria’s Country Managing Director, stressed that Africa’s youth population represents both the opportunity and the challenge for digital transformation.
According to the SAP Africa AI Skills Readiness Revealed Report:
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50% of Nigerian businesses expect a sharp rise in AI skills demand this year.
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93% already report setbacks in innovation due to shortages in AI expertise.
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West Africa leads the continent in relying on third-party providers to bridge the skills gap.
Adewumi noted:
“Africa’s future competitiveness lies in cultivating the right skills. As we adopt AI and cloud at scale, we must ensure our people are equipped to drive and sustain this change.”
A New Era of Regional Growth
SAP executives underscored that the region’s momentum is part of a larger strategic shift. With global supply chains diversifying and businesses demanding agility, West Africa’s embrace of AI-enabled operations positions it as a rising hub for digital growth.
Khota concluded:
“We are standing at the edge of a new era — one where West Africa can move beyond catching up to actively shaping global innovation. With the right technologies and skills, this region can set the pace for the next wave of growth.”
The Bigger Picture
The Lagos gathering wasn’t just about software; it reflected a broader economic rebalancing. As the region grapples with currency pressures, inflation, and global competition, AI and cloud technologies are becoming tools of survival and leadership. The conversations at SAP Business Suite Innovation Day signal that West Africa is not waiting on the sidelines — it is actively building the digital capabilities to thrive in a new global order.
