Huawei Cloud has identified Nigeria as a fertile ground for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and innovation, emphasising the country’s strategic position to harness AI in driving economic growth and digital transformation.
The firm made this declaration during the Huawei Cloud AI4Naija Forum in Lagos, themed ‘AI in Action: From Theory to Practice.’ The event brought together over 120 participants from key sectors, including government, finance, and e-commerce, to explore AI’s current applications and its future in Nigeria.
In his keynote address, the managing director of Huawei Cloud Nigeria, Hugo Hu, stressed the transformative power of AI as a major driver of economic advancement. “Artificial intelligence is redefining industrial capabilities and shaping the future of economic competitiveness. At Huawei Cloud, we are committed to playing a critical role in this journey and contributing to Nigeria’s industrial intelligence,” he stated.
Hu outlined three primary initiatives driving Huawei Cloud’s AI strategy in Nigeria: the Young Nigeria Talent Programme, the AI Foundation for an Intelligent Nigeria, and the Dynamic Nigeria AI Practice. He added that the company is leveraging its dual approach, Cloud for AI and AI for Cloud, to speed up intelligent transformation across various sectors.
The Huawei Cloud Sub-Saharan Africa vice president, Roc Bai, emphasised the ongoing technological strides in AI, driven by increased computing capacity and optimised algorithms. While drawing lessons from China’s experience, we note the importance of industry-specific data in building effective AI models. Bai explained that the evolution of AI is closely linked to advancements in algorithmic engineering and industry-specific data.
“China’s experience showcases the importance of industrial data in developing domain-specific models, and Huawei Cloud is bringing that expertise to Nigeria. Huawei Cloud’s AI is already delivering value across sectors like fintech, logistics, transportation, and energy,” he stated.
CEO of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), Dr. Olusola Ayoola, asserted that AI is pivotal to Nigeria’s digital future. ‘Artificial intelligence is central to digital transformation and economic advancement,’ as he underscored the importance of a skilled workforce and supportive policy environment in fast-tracking AI adoption.
The chief technology officer of OPay, Dotun Adekunle, shared insights on AI’s practical applications in fintech. He demonstrated how AI transforms financial services and predicted a future shaped by generative finance. “By the 2030s, we envision an ecosystem where personal finance, health records, and digital identities are managed seamlessly through AI-integrated digital wallets,” he explained.
