Artificial Intelligence and National Development in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges, and Policy Imperatives

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a critical technology with the ability to accelerate national development, revolutionise government, and improve socioeconomic results. In Nigeria, AI adoption is increasingly seen as a strategic instrument for boosting economic growth, improving public service delivery, strengthening human capital, and promoting social inclusion. This chapter examines AI in the Nigerian context, analysing its prospects, adoption hurdles, and the policy imperatives required to realise its revolutionary power. Using the Socio-Technical Systems (STS) viewpoint, the chapter places AI within larger social, institutional, and technical ecosystems, emphasising the interconnection of infrastructure, human capital, governance, and societal consequences. It explores sectoral adoption in government services, healthcare, education, agriculture, and finance, illustrating how AI-powered innovations may boost productivity, efficiency, and equity. The chapter also addresses major barriers to AI implementation, such as infrastructural deficiencies, a lack of digital skills, brain drain, legislative ambiguity, socioeconomic disparities, and ineffective data governance frameworks. To address these challenges, the chapter proposes a series of strategic interventions, highlighting the importance of a coherent national AI strategy, ethical and regulatory frameworks, capacity-building initiatives, investment in digital infrastructure, and inclusive innovation ecosystems facilitated by public-private partnerships. Targeted initiatives to close the digital gap and provide fair access are also explored. This chapter proposes a road map for using AI as a catalyst for sustainable and equitable national development in Nigeria, integrating theoretical ideas, empirical data, and policy analysis. AI adoption, when directed by strategic policy frameworks and institutional support, could strengthen economic competitiveness, governance effectiveness, and social welfare, putting Nigeria at the forefront of Africa's burgeoning AI landscape.