TIME Magazine has named Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, among the world’s most influential leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI).
The list, unveiled Thursday, honours innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers advancing AI globally. Other figures featured include Elon Musk, founder of xAI; Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta; Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon; and Matthew Prince, co-founder of Cloudflare.
Reacting to the recognition in a post on X, Tijani said the inclusion underscores Nigeria’s growing importance in the global AI space.
“This honour is a reflection of the collective effort of innovators and partners who believe in the potential of AI to transform societies,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress in the field, Tijani noted that over the last two years the country had designed its National AI Strategy (NAIS) in collaboration with more than 120 Nigerian experts across the globe. He explained that research and pilot projects have already demonstrated practical use cases for AI in healthcare, agriculture, education, and financial inclusion.
The minister added that Nigeria is working with global partners such as Google and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to scale AI solutions developed by local innovators, offering mentorship, resources, and investment to bring ideas into real-world impact.
He further cited the launch of the AI Collective, supported by Luminate Group, as well as the AI Trust, a body of national leaders tasked with securing ongoing investments in responsible AI development.
According to him, “Our journey in AI over the last two years has been transformative, The recognition from TIME reinforces Nigeria’s position as a potential global leader in the responsible and inclusive use of AI.”
Tijani reiterated his commitment to ensuring that AI innovation plays a central role in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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