Expert Urges Federal Govt To Integrate AI Into School Curriculum

A digital business consultant Alabi Olalekan has urged the federal government to prioritise artificial intelligence (AI) education as a national development imperative, warning that Nigeria may continue losing its brightest innovators to foreign markets without decisive action.

Olalekan  said the country stands at a critical crossroads, with over 60 per cent of its population under 25 lacking the structured training, incentives, and innovation infrastructure needed to retain emerging talent.

“We are not lacking in brilliance in Nigeria. What we lack is the infrastructure and opportunity to keep that brilliance here,” Olalekan said in an interview with LEADERSHIP.

He stressed that AI should now be treated as “basic literacy” within the national school system.

Olalekan noted that fewer than one per cent of Nigerian universities offer formal AI or data-science programmes, forcing many young people to rely on informal channels such as YouTube tutorials, online bootcamps or peer learning groups.

While commending initiatives such as AltSchool Africa, Zindi Africa, and the government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, he said current efforts “reach only a fraction of the youth population.”

The consultant expressed concern over the rising migration of digital professionals, with over 20,000 Nigerian tech workers reportedly relocating in the last two years due to limited career pathways, unstable infrastructure and economic uncertainty.

“When an AI engineer leaves, we don’t just lose coders. We lose problem-solvers, the very people who could develop early-warning flood systems, local-language health chatbots or smarter learning platforms,” he said.

“To continue exporting our best minds is to weaken our long-term competitiveness as a nation.”

Proffering solutions, Olalekan called for urgent policy actions to strengthen the country’s AI pipeline and reduce youth migration.

He urged the government to integrate AI into the national curriculum from secondary school, with emphasis on practical, locally relevant applications.

“There is also the need to invest in scalable EdTech platforms such as uLesson and Afrilearn that deliver personalised learning even in low-connectivity environments,” he said.

Other recommendations include incentivising local employment through tax breaks and grants for firms hiring Nigeria-trained AI professionals; strengthening the 3MTT programme through transparent funding, consistent evaluation and deeper collaboration with technology hubs; and empowering women in AI through targeted scholarships and mentorship in underserved communities.

“These steps, even if implemented halfway, could transform our youth from job seekers into innovators contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s future,” Olalekan said.

The expert’s call comes amid growing concerns about Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy, as countries across Africa, including Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, intensify investments in AI education and technology infrastructure.

According to a 2024 report by the African Union Development Agency, Nigeria accounts for nearly 30 per cent of Africa’s tech talent but lags behind in formal AI training programmes, with most innovation concentrated in Lagos and Abuja.

Industry stakeholders have long advocated for greater government support for the technology sector, citing challenges such as inconsistent power supply, limited access to funding and regulatory uncertainties as major barriers to growth.