Nigeria has ranked 18th out of 54 African countries in Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent readiness, scoring 37.7 in the latest AI Talent Readiness Index in Africa (2025) released by professional services firm PwC Nigeria. The report highlights that Nigeria trails innovation frontrunners on the continent, including South Africa (52.1), Tunisia (51.8), and Kenya (49.7).
According to PwC, the country’s position underscores persistent challenges in AI skills development, infrastructure, and strategic planning. Despite Nigeria’s advantage of a large, youthful population and a growing number of tech hubs, it remains held back by gaps in high-speed digital infrastructure, limited access to advanced AI training, and the absence of a coherent national AI strategy.
“To bridge this divide and compete with African and global leaders, Nigeria must urgently scale up AI education, invest in digital infrastructure, and foster stronger collaboration among government, academia, and the private sector,” the report advised.
The global average AI talent readiness score stands at 52.9, with Nigeria falling significantly short. However, PwC notes that Nigeria still plays a key role in Africa’s AI ecosystem. Of the approximately 2,400 AI-focused organisations across the continent, Nigeria is home to nearly 19 per cent, ranking second in terms of AI innovation activity.
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The report also reveals that Africa currently hosts less than one per cent of the world’s ~90,904 AI companies—starkly lower than the United States (39 per cent) and Europe (19 per cent). Nonetheless, the continent’s AI market is projected to grow to $8.39 billion by 2027 if adequately supported.
PwC warns that as AI continues to revolutionise industries—expected to influence 40 per cent of use cases within two years—labour markets will face major shifts, requiring urgent reskilling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
The findings were part of PwC Nigeria’s Mid-Year Review and Updates: H2 2025 Economic Outlook released earlier this week.
