Country moves up 42 places as global report highlights progress in AI governance, digital skills development and technology safeguards…..
Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s leading country in responsible artificial intelligence (AI) development, ranking 38th out of 135 countries in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI).
The country scored 45.93 out of 100 in the global assessment, which measures how effectively nations are developing the policies, institutions and safeguards needed to ensure artificial intelligence is created and deployed responsibly.
The report, released by the Global Center on AI Governance, evaluated countries across five key areas: inclusion and diversity, ethics and sustainability, labour and skills, trust and safety, and AI use in public services.
Nigeria’s performance placed it ahead of all other African countries assessed, while Norway emerged as the global leader with a score of 74.20, followed by Italy (72.71) and Ireland (71.39).
Tijani: Nigeria Must Help Shape Global AI Future
Reacting to the ranking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, described Nigeria’s position as evidence of the government’s commitment to responsible AI adoption.
Tijani said Africa should not only participate in the global artificial intelligence revolution but should also play an active role in determining how AI technologies are developed, regulated and applied.
“Nigeria’s emergence as the leading African country in 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI is an important affirmation of our belief that Africa must not only participate in the AI revolution but also help shape how these technologies are governed and deployed globally,” he said.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s rise by 42 places to 38th globally reflects ongoing efforts to create an AI ecosystem that is inclusive, responsible and aligned with national development goals.
He also welcomed Nigeria’s recognition as a global “Bright Spot” for advancing AI literacy, pointing to initiatives such as the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme as examples of the country’s commitment to building digital skills.
According to him, the government will continue investing in digital infrastructure, talent development and AI governance frameworks to ensure emerging technologies contribute to economic growth and national development.
Nigeria Outperforms African Peers
Nigeria’s overall score of 45.93 was significantly higher than the African regional average of 21.79.
South Africa ranked second on the continent with a score of 29.68, placing 77th globally. It was followed by Libya (29.24), Zambia (29.12), The Gambia (28.19) and Mauritius (26.29).
The report showed that Nigeria’s strongest areas were:
- Trust and Safety: 63.45
- Inclusion and Diversity: 52.06
- Ethics and Sustainability: 49.63
- Labour and Skills: 40.85
However, the country recorded its lowest performance in AI Use in Public Service, where it scored 23.65.
Other indicators showed Nigeria scoring 51.18 in AI policy, 26.94 in civil society engagement and 41.76 in enabling conditions.
Report Praises Nigeria’s Child Protection Measures
The GIRAI report identified Nigeria as a global “Bright Spot” for combining AI skills development with measures aimed at protecting children from potential AI-related risks.
It specifically highlighted the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025, which promotes AI literacy through programmes such as 3MTT.
The report also recognised the role of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025 in strengthening safeguards around children’s personal information and limiting decisions based solely on automated processing.
“With children’s rights receiving limited priority in the African region, Nigeria is one of the few African countries that has attempted to close the gap between skills development and AI harm protections for children,” the report stated.
The ranking places Nigeria among a growing group of countries seeking to balance rapid AI adoption with responsible governance, transparency and public protection.
