‘Nigeria Needs to Solve Power Issues to Harness AI’ – Okonjo-Iweala
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has emphasised that Nigeria must address its unsteady electricity supply to fully harness the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence (AI). She made this assertion while delivering an address at the 10th convocation ceremony of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja on Tuesday, January 14.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala underscored the critical role of reliable electricity in AI adoption, stating;
“Underpinning all that, of course, is access to reliable electricity power supply. Power outages and constant interruptions might prove a more challenging constraint in Nigeria and other African countries to internet access and AI adoption than anything else.”
Decentralized Electricity as a Solution
The WTO chief, who was reappointed in November 2024, proposed a decentralized approach to electricity provision as a viable solution, leveraging renewable energy sources.
She noted, “In other words, we could lay out the smartest approaches to the adoption of AI, like the federal government and AUST are trying to do, but find that efforts undermine our lack of access to the very basics – electricity infrastructure.”
Highlighting the efforts at AUST, she added, “Each production, consumption, and learning unit that is able should try to create its electricity supply through renewables.”
She added; “I’m proud to learn that AUST is embarking on this path, with feasibility studies for hydro and solar sources that can carry the campus. The issue is to mobilize the N200 million needed to make this happen.”
The Need for AI Regulations
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also stressed the importance of establishing robust regulatory frameworks for AI to ensure data security and sovereignty.
“We also need to bear in mind that relying on AI-driven systems could pose challenges to data sovereignty and security. Many African economies currently depend on foreign technology providers for AI tools and platforms, potentially raising concerns about privacy, governance, and the protection of sensitive information,” she warned.
She called for proactive measures, stating, “All these risks, combined with limited regulatory frameworks in many African countries, including Nigeria, underline the need for robust oversight and ethical guidelines tailored to local context.”
Investments for AI Adoption
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the necessity of significant investments in infrastructure to realize AI’s potential.
“I’ve been saying throughout that for people in Nigeria and across the continent to fully harness the gains from AI, we need investments. Investments in basic infrastructure first and foremost, investments in regulatory frameworks, in digital literacy, in upskilling our young people, in creating appropriate business ecosystems and more,” she said.
She expressed confidence in Africa’s ability to achieve this with careful planning and foresight, stating, “But I’m confident that with foresight and careful planning for implementation, Nigeria and Africa can do it.”
The Transformative Potential of AI
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala likened the advent of AI to that of electricity, describing it as a transformative force.
“It has already started to redefine how we live, learn, work, and trade. AI has been likened to the advent of electricity, a transformative force that reshapes everything it touches,” she said.
She acknowledged the economic potential of AI, citing, “The consultancy, Pricewaterhouse, estimates that AI could boost global economic activity by up to $15.7 trillion, or roughly 15% by 2030. They predict that this growth will not be confined to the industrialized north. The global south, including Nigeria, has much to gain.”
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala concluded by urging African nations to be proactive in seizing AI’s potential, warning, “Countries across the developing world will need to be proactive to seize this potential, and we cannot afford to be left behind.”
