Abuja: The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, alongside notable figures such as Elon Musk and Sam Altman, have been named in the 2025 TIME100 Artificial Intelligence (AI) list. This announcement was made by Isime Esene, the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the minister.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the list is a testament to the 100 most influential people in AI. Esene stated that TIME’s editors and reporters curated the list by analyzing significant AI stories from the past year and consulting with industry leaders and expert sources for their insights. This resulted in a compilation of 100 leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers with vested interests in the future of AI.
Esene highlighted that Tijani’s inclusion on this prestigious list underscores Nigeria’s emerging leadership role in promoting AI for inclusive and sustainable development. Tijani himself noted that through the National AI Strategy (NAIS), the ministry collaborated with over 120 experts of Nigerian descent to create a long-term strategy focused on the responsible utilization and development of AI.
The minister emphasized the importance of research and demonstration initiatives that reveal AI’s potential and practical applications in vital sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and financial inclusion. With the backing of partners like Google and the Gates Foundation, Nigeria is enabling the expansion of mature AI solutions developed by local innovators, providing them with the necessary resources, mentorship, and support to transform ideas into impactful results.
Tijani expressed that this recognition by TIME validates Nigeria’s potential to emerge as a global leader in the responsible and inclusive deployment of AI, aimed at enhancing productivity. He reiterated the commitment to ensuring AI drives innovation, contributing towards achieving a one trillion-dollar economy as envisioned by President Bola Tinubu. With this global acknowledgment, Nigeria reaffirms its dedication to using AI to create opportunities for its citizens and promote the advancement of responsible technology globally.