Nigeria AI Collective calls for stronger African ownership of AI infrastructure, innovation
October 24, 2026 by Our Reporter
The Nigeria AI Collective has called for Africans to have greater ownership of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and innovation. It urged stakeholders to improve computing power, electricity supply, internet connections and cooperation between African countries to support the continent's AI goals.
The group made this call at Build 2026, a conference organised by the Nigeria AI Collective with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in Abuja on October 21 and 22.
The event brought together government policymakers, researchers, investors, technology companies and innovators. They discussed how Africa could build, share and manage the computing systems needed to develop and expand AI tools that meet the continent's needs.
In her welcome speech, Dr Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre and host of the Nigeria AI Collective Secretariat, said the group was set up about two years ago. Its goal was to support an inclusive approach to AI development led by local people and in line with Nigeria's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS).
She said Build 2026 continued this work by bringing people together to promote African priorities in global AI decision-making and build partnerships for an AI sector that includes more people and can compete globally.
Dr Olubunmi Ajala delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. He pointed to key needs for improving Nigeria's AI infrastructure, including reliable electricity, internet connections, cloud computing and access to advanced computer chips.
He said meeting these basic needs would help people create new ideas and support economic growth.
Dr Ajala also spoke about the benefits of cooperation between African countries. He suggested connecting computing resources in Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Kenya to increase the region's ability to develop AI. “We need to look at how we can connect these resources,” he said, explaining that sharing computing power could help support more advanced AI uses.
Melanie Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Luminate, stressed the importance of making sure Africa's growing AI sector leads to greater local ownership and shared economic benefits. She said Africa's role in the global AI economy should go beyond simply using technology. Africans should also have real influence over the infrastructure, organisations and partnerships that shape the continent's digital future.
“Fair ownership means going beyond simply taking part. It means having real influence over the infrastructure, the institutions, the partnerships and the choices that will shape Africa's digital future,” Hui said.
Build 2026 also showed practical ways to use AI, beyond discussions about policies. Demonstrations featured solutions developed in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
The Build AI Garage was an important part of the conference. It gave innovators a place to present their ideas to stakeholders. The showcase helped them gain attention, receive feedback and connect with possible partners. It also showed how solutions developed locally can help solve real-world problems.
During the conference, large group discussions, research presentations, technical workshops, talks about different industries and innovation showcases brought people from across the AI sector together. People from African countries and other parts of the world took part, showing the value of sharing knowledge across borders and working together to improve Africa's AI capabilities.
Through Build 2026, the Nigeria AI Collective brought discussions about infrastructure, policy, research and practical innovation together to explore Africa's AI future. As its first conference comes to an end, the group hopes to build on this start and grow “Build” into a widely used platform for discussion, cooperation and action on AI across Africa.
The Nigeria AI Collective is a community that brings together people with experience in civil society, universities, innovation, policymaking and the wider AI sector. Its goal is to advance AI in Nigeria and help ensure that it is safe, ethical, inclusive and beneficial to everyone in society.
The Collective is developing an approach to Nigeria's AI work that includes more people and is led locally, both within Nigeria and internationally. It follows the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) and encourages cooperation with government organisations. Luminate, the Ford Foundation, AI Collaborative and the MacArthur Foundation support the Collective. Five leading Nigerian organisations manage its work in close partnership: the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), Lagos Business School (LBS), Data Science Nigeria (DSN) and the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID).