Nigeria aims to become Africa’s AI hub with major infrastructure investments and strategic reforms

Johnson Agogbua, CEO of Kasi Cloud, calls on Nigeria to leverage its large market and improve AI capabilities through visionary investments and indigenous technology development to lead Africa in AI innovation.

Founder and CEO of Kasi Cloud, Johnson Agogbua, has called on the Nigerian government to strategically reposition the country as a future leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa by developing indigenous AI infrastructure. Addressing the Minister–Regulator and Telecom Executives Forum, Agogbua stressed the urgency for Nigeria to move beyond passive consumption of foreign AI technologies and build its own capacity to become an active player in the AI ecosystem.

Speaking alongside key figures including Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and Minister of Communications Dr Bosun Tijani, Agogbua outlined the opportunities Nigeria holds given its large market population of over 500 million people across the continent. He emphasised the need for “AI first” thinking supported by massive investments in hyperscale data centres. Kasi Cloud is currently constructing a state-of-the-art hyperscale data centre in Lekki, Lagos, a $250 million project modelled after Silicon Valley technology parks, which aims to enhance digital infrastructure and connectivity across the region. Agogbua underlined that the planned 100-megawatt capacity is a starting point and that multiple such facilities will be required to meet Africa’s AI and cloud computing demands.

While recognising the Nigerian government’s $2 billion fibre-optic infrastructure initiative to deploy an additional 90,000 kilometres of fibre cable, alongside efforts to digitise education and public services, Agogbua highlighted the need for a broader vision to establish Nigeria as the AI hub of Africa. He raised the issue of dependence on foreign chipsets for AI technologies and questioned whether the country’s ambitious goals could also incorporate some degree of self-reliance in semiconductor technology. The Minister of Communications echoed this sentiment, acknowledging Nigeria’s initially slow AI adoption compared to other African nations, but pointed out that recent government strategies have positioned Nigeria favourably. He mentioned the formation of the ‘AI Collective’, an expert committee guiding AI development, and the Federal Executive Council’s approval of an AI Trust, a board comprising influential technology advocates committed to sustaining AI advancement beyond current ministerial tenures.

Despite these proactive steps, Nigeria faces significant structural challenges in AI readiness. According to a PwC report, Nigeria ranks 18th out of 54 African countries in AI talent readiness, with a score of 37.7, behind countries like South Africa, Tunisia, and Kenya. The report highlights critical gaps in advanced AI skills training, digital infrastructure, and coherent national AI strategies. Though Nigeria accounts for almost 19% of organisations working on AI solutions in Africa, the country must urgently enhance AI education, invest in high-speed digital infrastructure, and foster stronger collaborations between government, academia, and the private sector to improve its standings and fully leverage its youthful population and emerging tech hubs.

Agogbua’s efforts and vision have been recognised; he was presented with the Digital Luminary Award (Gold Category) at the maiden Telecoms Excellence Awards Night 2025 in Abuja. The award, organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), honours organisations significantly advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. Praising Kasi Cloud’s world-class data infrastructure investments, ATCON President Tony Emoekpere said the company’s work is pivotal in accelerating digital transformation and positioning Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s technology future.

In response, Agogbua expressed his commitment to building hyperscale data centres that will support AI and cloud computing growth, emphasising the importance of data sovereignty, infrastructure localisation, and inclusive digital development. He framed Kasi Cloud’s mission as foundational to Africa’s long-term digital resilience and competitiveness, an ambition that aligns closely with the country’s objectives of becoming a central hub for AI innovation across the continent.

📌 Reference Map:

• ^[1] (The Guardian Nigeria) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9
• ^[2] (Business Wire) – Paragraph 3
• ^[3] (Vanguard Nigeria) – Paragraph 1, 4
• ^[4], ^[5], ^[6] (PwC Report Summaries) – Paragraph 5
• ^[1] (The Guardian Nigeria) – Paragraph 8

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments, including Johnson Agogbua’s call for Nigeria to develop indigenous AI infrastructure and the construction of a $250 million hyperscale data centre in Lekki, Lagos. The earliest known publication date of similar content is April 2022, when Kasi Cloud announced the groundbreaking of the data centre. The report includes updated data and quotes, indicating a higher freshness score. However, the presence of earlier versions with different figures or quotes is not evident. The narrative does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The inclusion of updated data justifies a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([businesswire.com](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220419005944/en/Kasi-Cloud-Ltd.-Breaks-Ground-in-Lagos-Nigeria-on-New-Hyperscale-Data-Center?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The direct quotes from Johnson Agogbua and Dr. Bosun Tijani are consistent with their previous statements. For instance, Agogbua’s emphasis on Nigeria’s need to build its own AI capacity aligns with his earlier remarks. No significant variations in wording are noted, suggesting the quotes are reused. The absence of earlier material with identical quotes is not evident.

Source reliability

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian Nigeria, a reputable organisation. However, the presence of similar content in other outlets, such as Vanguard Nigeria, raises questions about the originality of the report. The involvement of Business Wire in the announcement of the data centre’s groundbreaking adds credibility. ([vanguardngr.com](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/11/kasi-cloud-ceo-urges-fg-to-make-nigeria-africas-ai-hub/?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims regarding Nigeria’s AI readiness and the construction of the hyperscale data centre are plausible and supported by recent developments. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact dates and names of all involved parties, which could enhance credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents recent developments regarding Nigeria’s efforts to become an AI hub in Africa, including the construction of a $250 million hyperscale data centre. While the content is largely consistent with previous reports, the inclusion of updated data and quotes suggests a higher freshness score. The source is reputable, but the presence of similar content in other outlets raises questions about originality. The claims are plausible and supported by recent developments, though the lack of specific factual anchors slightly reduces credibility. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with a medium level of confidence.