Nigeria has officially launched its Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology Report, a major step aimed at strengthening ethical governance and institutional capacity for artificial intelligence (AI) development in the country.
The report was unveiled at a high-level event held at Rockview Hotel, Abuja, bringing together government officials, international partners, development agencies, academics, and technology stakeholders.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Dimitri Sanga, Officer-in-Charge of the Abuja Office, described the launch as a milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to building a human-centred and ethically guided AI ecosystem. He noted that artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming governance, education, security, communication, and economic systems globally, making strong regulatory and ethical frameworks increasingly essential.
Sanga referenced the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted by 193 member states, as a foundational global framework guiding responsible AI development. He stressed that Nigeria’s ongoing efforts under the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), supported by UNESCO and funded by the European Union, are designed to operationalize AI governance across key institutional and policy dimensions.
He added that the initiative is not an endpoint but a diagnostic foundation for future policy direction, innovation, and capacity building. According to him, over 400 civil servants across six states have already been trained under an AI literacy programme aimed at strengthening public sector readiness.
The Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who chaired the occasion, was joined by representatives of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, including Ms. Ikram Tolba, as well as UNESCO Headquarters representative Ms. Dafna Feinholz, Chief of Section for Ethics of Science and Technology.
Participants at the event included national commissioners, secretaries to government commissions, agency heads, researchers, civil society organisations, AI innovators, and members of both the RAM Steering Committee and Technical Working Group.
Stakeholders at the event reiterated the importance of ensuring that AI development in Nigeria remains ethical, inclusive, and aligned with human rights principles. They also expressed readiness to deepen collaboration between government institutions, development partners, and the private sector to strengthen national AI governance frameworks.
The event concluded with a call for collective responsibility in shaping the future of ethical and responsible AI innovation in Nigeria, with stakeholders urged to ensure that emerging technologies serve the public good and national development priorities.
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