Nigeria has overtaken Egypt and Kenya to become the highest-ranked African country in a major new assessment of how nations handle artificial intelligence responsibly. 

The country’s 42-place jump globally, from 80th two years ago to 38th now, comes from the Global Index on Responsible AI, compiled by the Cape Town-based Global Centre on AI Governance. Analysts score countries across five categories: how inclusive their AI systems are, ethics and sustainability, jobs and skills, safety and trust, and how well AI is used in government services. Nigeria’s tally landed at 45.93, out of 135 nations ranked.

The improvement tracks with a period of active policy building. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy  Bosun Tijani framed the result as proof that African countries can shape global AI rules rather than simply react to them, tying the progress to Nigeria’s broader goal of building a trillion-dollar economy.

“This recognition is a testament to Nigeria’s deliberate efforts to build an AI ecosystem that is inclusive, responsible, and aligned with our development priorities,” Minister Bosun Tijani said.

“We believe that Africa must not only participate in the AI revolution but also contribute meaningfully to shaping how these technologies are governed and deployed globally. Our focus remains on creating the infrastructure, talent, and policy environment that will enable AI to deliver real value for our people and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.”

One detail stood out in the report: Nigeria was flagged as a “Bright Spot,” a label given to countries managing to both train citizens in AI skills and protect children and other vulnerable groups from AI-related harm at the same time. The 3 Million Technical Talent programme got specific credit here for teaching AI and machine learning to young people across the country. On the protection side, assessors pointed to the Nigeria Data Protection Act and a 2025 directive that requires parental consent before children’s data can be used, and restricts decisions made entirely by automated systems.

Across the 135 countries studied, the average score barely clears 35 out of 100, and fewer than half of nations in the Global South that have written responsible AI rules can show they’re actually enforcing them. That gap between policy on paper and policy in practice is the real story behind these rankings, and it’s the test Nigeria will now face as it tries to hold onto this position rather than just claim it for one cycle.

Nigeria’s latest achievement builds on its recent progress in international AI assessments. Earlier this year, the country climbed 31 places in the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, reflecting improvements in its institutional readiness and policy environment. With AI projected to contribute as much as $1.2 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, the latest GIRAI ranking could further strengthen Nigeria’s position as an emerging destination for AI investment, innovation and talent.