Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African nations show low readiness for AI adoption

Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African nations still lag in AI readiness, scoring 0.34 on the AI Preparedness Index. This shows the need for more investment, better infrastructure, and a willingness to embrace the AI revolution. For those who want to understand how global digital progress intersects with academic work, consider exploring services like dissertation ghostwriter – especially in regions where access to expert academic support may be limited.

The AI Preparedness Index measures the level of AI readiness across 173 countries and 13 regions. It evaluates factors such as digital infrastructure, workforce skills, innovation, economic policies, and ethical regulations.

Note: Scores range from 0 to 1, with 1 being the most prepared.

Source:

International Monetary Fund

Period:

2024
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South Africa leads as Africa’s digitally delivered services exports hit $41.3 billion in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total
  • Africa exported $41.3 billion in digital services in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total.
  • South Africa was the continent’s top exporter with $7.05 billion.
  • Morocco ($6.74 billion) and Ghana ($5.18 billion) followed closely.
  • Egypt ($4.03 billion) and Mauritius ($3.53 billion) also ranked among the top five.
  • The top five countries together made up about two-thirds of Africa’s exports.

For every $1 Nigeria earned from exporting digital services between 2005 and 2024, it spent almost $10 on imports
  • Nigeria exported $10.81 billion in digital services between 2005 and 2024.
  • Imports during the same period reached $105.34 billion.
  • The result was a trade deficit of $94.53 billion over 20 years.
  • Exports rose from just $40 million in 2005 to $1.55 billion in 2024.
  • Imports were almost ten times larger than exports, showing a persistent imbalance.

South Africa dominates Africa’s data centre scene with a total of 320 Mega watts capacity across two data centres
  • Teraco in South Africa is Africa’s largest data centre with 200 MW capacity.
  • Nigeria follows with a combined 110 MW from Rack Centre and MainOne.
  • Kenya leads East Africa with a 50 MW facility by Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
  • Morocco’s 40 MW Maroc Datacenter tops North Africa.

Only 16 African countries have launched national AI strategies as of July 2025
  • Just 16 out of 54 African countries have launched a national AI strategy.
  • Over 30 countries remain at the early or inactive stage with no clear roadmap.
  • Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is still drafting its AI policy.
  • Leaders include Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Rwanda, and Senegal.
  • Most low-income and post-conflict states like Chad, Somalia, and South Sudan are far behind.

Meta earns $16.6B profit as Q1 2025 revenue hits $42.3B, over 3× Q1 2018, with half from outside the U.S., Europe & Asia-Pacific.
  • Meta’s revenue reached $42.3B in Q1 2025, more than triple its Q1 2018 revenue, marking a steep and sustained growth curve.
  • Net income surged to $16.6B, its highest in a first quarter, reflecting efficient cost structures and monetisation strategies.
  • The U.S. alone contributed 26.1% of this revenue, followed by Asia Pacific (15.8%) and Europe (7.4%).
  • The “Rest of the World” brought in over 50% of Meta’s total revenue, highlighting a growing influence from emerging markets, including Africa.

The United States of America hosts over 3,700 data centres, 8× more than any other country as of May 2025
  • The U.S. dominates globally with 3,757 data centers, more than 8× any other country in the top 10.
  • Germany and the U.K. follow distantly with 443 and 428 data centres, respectively.
  • No African country makes the top 10, emphasising the infrastructure gap.
  • Africa's top three show modest but notable progress: South Africa ranks 36th (49 data centres), Kenya 54th (18), and Nigeria 56th (16).

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