By Muhammed Sherifdeen Omeiza
Artificial intelligence is no longer something that belongs only to technology companies. Governments are beginning to use it, businesses are investing in it and African countries are developing policies to take advantage of it. The question is no longer whether Africa will use artificial intelligence. The bigger question is whether African governments are prepared to use it in a way that actually improves the lives of citizens.
This is important because Africa has many public problems that technology could help solve. Governments struggle with tax collection, poor public records, limited access to healthcare, weak education systems and slow public services. AI could help governments analyse large amounts of information, identify people who need social support, detect tax evasion, improve traffic management and support doctors and teachers.
The interest is already growing. Several African countries have developed national AI strategies, with agriculture, health, education and public administration among the areas governments are considering for AI use.
Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa are already exploring how AI can support public services. But there is a problem. Technology cannot fix a weak institution by itself.
If government data is incomplete, AI may produce poor results. If public institutions do not have enough trained workers, the technology may not be properly used. If there are no strong rules for protecting personal information, citizens may also be exposed to serious privacy problems.
There is also the issue of electricity and internet access. The IMF estimates that AI could increase Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic output by about 4% over the next decade if the region improves electricity, internet access and digital skills. But the same report points out that about half of the region still lacks reliable electricity, while only 38% of Africans were using the internet in 2024.
This means that Africa cannot simply copy what developed countries are doing with AI. The continent has to build the conditions that allow the technology to work.
Governments also need to think about who controls the technology. If African countries depend completely on foreign companies for AI systems, data storage and computing power, they may gain access to technology without building their own capacity. This could create a new form of dependence.
The answer is not to reject foreign technology. Africa needs partnerships and investment. But those partnerships should also support local skills, research, infrastructure and African ownership of data.
There should also be clear rules about how AI is used by government. A citizen should not lose access to a public service simply because an algorithm made a decision that nobody can explain. There must always be human oversight, accountability and a way for people to challenge decisions.
African governments therefore need to treat AI as a public policy issue, not just a technology issue.
The continent should invest in electricity, internet infrastructure, digital skills and research. Governments should create clear rules for data protection and responsible AI. Universities should be supported to train people who can build and manage these systems. Most importantly, AI projects should be judged by the problems they solve, not by how impressive the technology sounds.
Africa does not need to become a leader in every area of artificial intelligence.
It needs to become good at using AI to solve its own problems.
If governments get this right, AI can become a tool for better public services and faster development. If they get it wrong, Africa may simply become a large market for technologies developed elsewhere.
The future of AI in Africa will therefore depend less on the technology itself and more on the quality of the institutions that use it.
– Muhammed Sherifdeen Omeiza is a Nigerian researcher and writer whose work explores the intersection of humanitarian action, human rights, gender equality and global governance. With a keen interest in public policy, democracy, and political economy, he examines how local experiences and global decisions shape humanitarian outcomes in times of crisis. His writings draw from African and international contexts, reflecting a commitment to justice, accountability, and people-centered governance in global affairs.
Email: sherifdeenmuhammed001@gmail.com
