Nigeria Not Prepared For AI Despite Youths’ Eagerness To Learn’, Says Carbon AI CEO

A software and artificial intelligence engineer, Debola Ibiodi, has said that Nigeria was not adequately prepared to harness the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI), despite a strong appetite among young people to engage with the technology.

Ibiodi, who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Carbon AI, stated this during an interview on Arise News’ Daybreak on Monday, where she spoke on Nigeria’s readiness for the growing influence of AI in everyday life.

She said Nigeria lacks the necessary structures for the AI, even with the eagerness of its youthful population to learn.

“Nigeria as a nation is not prepared. That’s the simple answer,” she said. “However, there is a hunger from the youths. More than half of Nigeria’s population is below 30, which is about 130 million people. If you extend that to those below 35, you’re looking at about 150 million people who can take advantage of this technology.”

She stressed the need for collaboration between the government and the private sector to build an ecosystem capable of empowering young Nigerians in artificial intelligence.

“Nigeria needs to work together including the government and private sector, to build an ecosystem that can empower this massive population in AI,” Ibiodi said. “We need to bring AI literacy to the forefront of education and work because the future of jobs, innovation, and productivity will be powered by artificial intelligence.”

She added that while the country may not yet be ready, individuals and organisations were already working to bridge the gap and prepare young people for an AI-driven future.