Stakeholders Push for Local Talent in Nigeria's AI Sector

At the Huawei Nigeria AI and Cloud Summit 2026 held on August 27 in Lagos, stakeholders in Nigeria's technology sector called for greater investment in local talent and innovation to advance the country's artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing capabilities. The summit, themed “Built Local, Built Intelligent,” focused on developing home-grown technological solutions to address Nigeria's unique economic and social challenges.

Mr. Abdulkabir Opeyemi, representing Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, stated that Nigeria must transition from being a technology consumer to a producer, emphasizing that locally developed solutions are essential for sustainable innovation. He noted that AI and cloud technologies could transform sectors such as healthcare and agriculture while creating jobs for the youth.

Austin You, CEO of Huawei Nigeria, highlighted the company's commitment to Nigeria's digital transformation, mentioning that Huawei has trained over 100,000 Nigerians and established over 250 ICT academies to enhance the local technology talent pool.