Global AI metrics undercount Nigeria’s real usage

As global use of artificial intelligence expands rapidly, Nigeria still finds itself navigating a mix of opportunities and challenges, according to data from the 2025 Microsoft AI Adoption report.

The Microsoft report shows that roughly one in six people worldwide used generative AI tools in the second half of 2025, yet adoption in the Global South, which includes Nigeria, lags behind advanced markets, with only about 14 per cent of the working-age population using these tools compared with nearly 25 percent in wealthier regions.

In Nigeria’s case, the report’s data places the country’s estimated usage share in line with other lower-income economies, around 9 percent to 9.3 percent adoption, which is a modest gain over the previous period. While far below global hotspots such as the UAE and Singapore, this growth reveals the early stages of AI diffusion in Africa’s largest economy.

Nigeria’s young population and dynamic tech ecosystem position it well to convert high interest into real-world gains if investments in infrastructure, education, and inclusive policymaking keep pace. While global reports reflect a divide, Nigerian usage patterns indicate a vigorous and practical embrace of AI tools that often outpace conventional metrics.

As deployment grows and domestic innovation ecosystems mature, analysts say Nigeria could emerge as a key African hub for AI adoption and adaptation, blending global technologies with locally relevant solutions.

Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s communications and public affairs manager for West Africa, said the report, titled “Our Life with AI: Helpfulness in the Hands of More People,” shows that Nigerians are embracing AI tools at an exceptional rate and remain highly optimistic about the technology’s future.

It declared that 88 per cent of Nigerian adults had used an AI chatbot, representing an 18-point increase from 2024 and significantly higher than the global average of 62 per cent.

“It is inspiring to see how Nigerians are creatively and purposefully using AI to unlock opportunities for learning, growth, and economic empowerment. This report goes beyond high adoption rates; it tells the story of a nation actively shaping its future with technology,” he said.

Contrasting sharply with the Microsoft usage estimates, independent surveys highlight strong engagement with AI tools among Nigerians online.

Based on a 2025 global survey by Ipsos and Google titled “Our Life with AI: From Innovation to Application,” 70 percent of Nigeria’s internet users had interacted with generative AI, significantly above many global averages. Additional research by Google and Ipsos in early 2026 suggests that 93 percent of Nigerians now use AI to learn complex topics, and more than 80 percent apply AI tools for work and professional tasks, figures that place Nigeria among global leaders in practical AI use.

This reflects how traditional metrics based on device telemetry can under-report AI use in mobile-centric markets like Nigeria, where users access tools through various platforms beyond standard measurement channels.

Local industry insights suggest rapid uptake among Nigerian companies, with the Zoho report revealing that 93 percent of Nigerian companies now use AI in operations such as customer service, automation, and data analysis.

Various businesses and government agencies are adopting AI, supported by initiatives such as the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

These bodies provide funding, infrastructure, and technical resources for AI-driven projects.
In 2025, President Bola Tinubu pledged to position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s AI integration, which is a strategic ambition, yet realising it depends on addressing foundational challenges.

Nigeria, such as many countries in the Global South, faces infrastructure barriers such as limited broadband access, inconsistent electricity, and high data costs that constrain deeper AI adoption.

The Microsoft report warns that unless these gaps are addressed, the digital and innovation divide between richer and poorer nations may widen further. There are also concerns over skills mismatches, regulatory preparedness, and the need for models that understand local languages and context, which many global AI systems currently lack.