Industry professionals in Nigeria are emphasizing the importance of manufacturers moving beyond artificial intelligence experimentation and towards practical, scalable solutions. These solutions could boost productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and deliver measurable economic value across the region. According to experts, AI has the potential to unlock significant economic value for Africa's manufacturing sector. However, companies must address weaknesses in data, infrastructure, energy, and technical skills to fully harness AI's potential.
Stakeholders at the recent GITEX Nigeria 2026 conference explored the practical applications of AI in the manufacturing sector. The event provided a platform for innovators, entrepreneurs, and organizations driving Africa's digital transformation to connect and share ideas. Discussions centered on productivity, operational efficiency, return on investment, workforce augmentation, and the critical role of data and digital infrastructure in driving AI adoption at scale.
Ian Leslie, Chief Information Officer of Dangote Cement, highlighted the opportunities for African manufacturers to leverage AI and leapfrog legacy industrial systems. He noted that AI should not be viewed as a substitute for fixing the continent's fundamental industrial weaknesses. Leslie emphasized that the absence of legacy systems in Africa could be a genuine advantage, allowing for new capacity to be born digital rather than retrofitted.
Leslie also pointed out that manufacturers across the continent face pressure to improve productivity and compete in a global market where advanced technologies are increasingly being deployed to optimize production, supply chains, and industrial operations. He stressed that poor-quality data, locked into proprietary systems, is a significant problem for automation in manufacturing worldwide.
The GITEX Nigeria event provided a platform for discussions on Africa's digital opportunity, which is about more than moving services online or increasing digital transactions. It is about creating the infrastructure and conditions that allow digital participation to translate into broader economic opportunity. The conference highlighted the need for practical AI solutions that can drive economic growth and development in Nigeria and across Africa.
Experts argue that AI adoption at scale requires critical investments in data and digital infrastructure. They also emphasize the need for workforce augmentation and training to ensure that workers have the necessary skills to work with AI technologies. The use of AI in manufacturing has the potential to drive significant economic growth and development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The Nigerian government and private sector are working to create an enabling environment for AI adoption in the manufacturing sector. This includes investments in digital infrastructure, data management, and technical skills development. With the right approach, Nigeria and other African countries can harness the potential of AI to drive economic growth, improve productivity, and increase competitiveness in the global market.
Key points
- Industry experts stress the need for practical AI solutions in manufacturing to drive economic growth and development in Nigeria and across Africa.
- African manufacturers can leverage AI to leapfrog legacy industrial systems and improve productivity.
- Investments in data and digital infrastructure are critical for AI adoption at scale in the manufacturing sector.
