British-Nigerian data and artificial intelligence expert Abel Aboh has criticized the Federal Government’s target of training 36,000 Nigerians in artificial intelligence, describing the figure as insufficient to drive meaningful national impact.
Speaking on The Coffee Table Podcast, Aboh said the initiative is too limited for a country with a large youth population and growing digital economy. He argued that Nigeria’s AI literacy program should not be restricted to tertiary institutions but integrated into the education system from an early age.
The criticism follows the government’s recent partnership with Coursera to train 36,000 Nigerian youths in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Aboh also questioned the implementation of Nigeria’s AI strategy, stating that policy documents alone would not deliver results without clearly defined objectives and practical applications. He called for greater focus on using AI to address challenges in agriculture, security, unemployment, transportation, and public service delivery.
According to him, artificial intelligence can help farmers improve productivity through data-driven decision-making, while security agencies can deploy AI-powered surveillance, intelligence gathering, and monitoring systems to tackle crime.
He further urged Nigeria to invest in critical digital infrastructure, including data centres, and develop a technology strategy that supports innovation, job creation, and economic growth.
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