Nigeria has become the highest-ranked African country in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI), climbing 42 places to reach 38th position worldwide. The Nigerian government says the result reflects the country’s growing leadership in responsible artificial intelligence governance.
The 2026 GIRAI evaluated 135 countries and jurisdictions, assessing the effectiveness of policies, institutions, governance models, and enabling conditions designed to ensure that AI is developed and deployed responsibly. The assessment was based on five core pillars: inclusion and diversity, ethics and sustainability, work and skills, trust and safety, and the use of AI in public services.
The report notes that responsible AI governance is expanding globally. While a growing number of governments are adopting AI governance frameworks, the global average score remains at approximately 35 points on a scale of 100. Furthermore, evidence of implementation exists in only 55% of cases where such frameworks have been established — a figure that falls to 45% among Global South countries.
The report identifies Nigeria as one of the countries helping to shape the next phase of responsible AI governance outside of traditional technology hubs. It highlights Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen AI governance despite resource constraints, moving from policy commitments to the implementation of safeguards and the reinforcement of institutional capacity.
Within the African context, South Africa ranks second with 29.68 points, placing 77th globally, followed by Libya (29.24), Zambia (29.12), Gambia (28.19), and Mauritius (26.29). Across the five pillars assessed, Nigeria recorded its strongest performance in Trust and Safety (63.45 points), Inclusion and Diversity (52.06), Ethics and Sustainability (49.63), and Work and Skills (40.85). Its weakest result was in the use of AI in public services, where it scored 23.65 points.
“Nigeria’s rise to first place in Africa and to 38th position globally reflects the deliberate work being done to build an inclusive, responsible AI ecosystem aligned with the country’s development priorities,” said Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
According to the report’s authors, in a region where children’s rights still receive limited attention in the context of AI, Nigeria is among the few African countries seeking to close the gap between skills development and the establishment of safeguards against AI-related risks.
Minister Tijani said the achievement validates Nigeria’s strategy of developing an AI ecosystem that balances innovation with responsible governance.
“Nigeria’s emergence as the leading African country in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI is an important affirmation of our conviction that Africa should not merely participate in the AI revolution, but also help shape how these technologies are regulated and deployed globally. The rise to first place in Africa and 38th place worldwide reflects the deliberate work being done to build an inclusive, responsible AI ecosystem aligned with the country’s development priorities,” Tijani stated.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s recognition as one of the report’s ‘Bright Spots’ in the promotion of AI literacy. He noted that this recognition stems from initiatives such as the National AI Strategy (NAIS) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, both cited by the report as examples of efforts to expand AI skills and strengthen digital capacity.
Looking ahead, Tijani said the government will continue to invest in digital infrastructure, talent development, and governance models to ensure that artificial intelligence delivers tangible benefits for Nigerians. He added that these investments will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a one-trillion-dollar economy driven by innovation, productivity, and inclusive growth.
Source: Diário Económico
