Nigeria has published 20 peer-reviewed artificial intelligence (AI) research papers in less than two years, marking a breakthrough for the country’s participation in the global AI research community. This milestone comes under the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS), a federally funded program designed to strengthen local AI innovation and ensure Nigerian institutions gain visibility for original work.
Localizing AI Innovation
Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy and backed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), NAIRS seeks to reverse years of underrepresentation.
While many Nigerians abroad had authored AI papers, almost none were credited to Nigerian universities or labs. NAIRS was created to change that.
“We discovered thousands of AI papers authored by Nigerians, but none tied to Nigerian institutions,” said Olubunmi Ajala, Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, during GITEX Nigeria in Abuja. “That’s why NAIRS was created — to give Nigerian researchers, both at home and abroad, a structured platform to produce Nigeria-led AI research.”
Driving Research With Practical Results
The scheme’s first call drew over 4,000 applications, with 45 research consortia selected. Each group, combining academics and startups, received grants of up to ₦5 million ($3,400) to produce publishable research within a year.
Focus areas included:
- Agriculture
- Healthcare
- Education
- Sustainability
- Utilities
By August 2025, the program had produced 20 peer-reviewed papers, including two published in Springer journals. Several projects are already in testing stages.
Examples include:
- Agriculture: Using YOLOv8 computer vision models to detect “tomato Ebola,” a plant disease that devastates harvests.
- Transport: Developing a smart traffic management system that replaces Nigeria’s fixed 60-second cycles with adaptive AI signals responsive to real-time conditions.
“These are not just academic exercises,” Ajala emphasized. “They are practical solutions tested with real data, designed to solve problems that directly affect Nigerians.”
Building Long-Term AI Infrastructure
NAIRS is also investing in capacity building. Through the AI Collective, a network of over 2,000 Nigerian AI practitioners worldwide, researchers collaborate, mentor students, and share datasets.
The next stage will focus on patents, biotech applications, and scalable AI startups, signaling Nigeria’s intent to become a continental leader in AI-driven development.
“Once strong research outcomes begin to emerge, funding naturally follows,” Ajala said. “Global partners are keen to see how AI can address African realities, and Nigeria is beginning to provide answers.”
The success of NAIRS shows that Nigeria AI research can transition from theory to real-world impact. With peer-reviewed papers, working prototypes, and growing infrastructure, Nigeria is positioning itself as a key player in shaping AI for Africa’s future.
