Nigeria unveils groundbreaking AI Trust vision at Warwick Business School

Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy ‘Bosun Tijani set out his vision for a “one of its kind” National AI Trust at WBS London at The Shard. 

The School hosted a two-day National AI Trust Convening, one of three Nigeria is holding and the only one held abroad, as the country looks to position itself in the global AI race. 

Dr Tijani, a Warwick Business School alum named by Time magazine in 2025 as one of the 100 most influential people in AI, led the Convening, bringing together senior Nigerian government officials, industry leaders from the likes of Microsoft, Jaguar Land Rover, Goldman Sachs and UBS, alongside academics - including from WBS - and international organisations such as UNESCO. 

The Convening discussed how to design the Trust to guide the next phase of Nigeria’s AI adoption, investment, and responsible innovation, marking a significant step towards formalising oversight of a technology set to transform its digital economy. 

Dr Tijani said: “We are going to become a standard bearer for the world. This has never been done before; the AI Trust is one of its kind and is an important step in building the foundations for Nigeria to thrive in the age of AI. 

“This is a transformative technology. AI is becoming the operating system for how countries compete and how businesses evolve. It will change every sector, and the Trust is to ensure Nigeria is part of that transformation.  

“To be part of this race and lead Africa, Nigeria will have to be more innovative; the Government’s job is to ensure the infrastructure and governance is in place for business and entrepreneurs to do that and gain the full benefit of AI.” 

The Trust will sit apart from the Nigerian Government, with Dr Tijani, a former tech entrepreneur, emphasising that effective AI governance needs collaborative policymaking across sectors. 

“The competitiveness of any society starts with governance,” he said. “If the Trust can demonstrate impact and show its value, then it will ensure its longevity beyond the present government. 

“Representation in the new AI world is important for Africa; we need participation beyond the US and the West. As AI systems expand globally, understanding diverse contexts matters. The Trust can play a part in this.” 

WBS academics Joe Nandhakumar, Head of the Information Systems Management & Analytics Group, and Hossam Zeitoun, Reader in Strategy and Behavioural Science, presented on comparative institutional design, while Susanne Beck, Assistant Professor in the Information Systems Management & Analytics Group, discussed the capabilities needed for change, and Assistant Professor Kalina Staykova looked at how the Trust would retain independence. 

Andy Lockett, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Dean of WBS, said: “AI governance is of huge importance - not just for Africa, but for countries around the world.  

“At Warwick Business School, it is in our DNA to influence both policy and practice, going back to our origin 59 years ago when we were known as the School of Industrial and Business Studies.

“We are delighted to support initiatives like the Nigeria AI Trust and to convene important conversations where we can learn, collaborate and shape the future together.” 

At the event, which was organised in partnership with the Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), an African innovation organisation, and the MacArthur Foundation, a US charity, Angela Aneke, WBS Regional Chair for Africa and member of the Global Advisory Board of WBS, said: “The achievements of the Honourable Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani, particularly in advancing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure agenda, deserve both recognition and wider visibility.  

“Initiatives such as the nationwide 90,000km fibre-optic programme, for which he has secured over $2 billion to support implementation, are laying the foundation for a more connected, innovative, and competitive economy. 

“This Convening to design an AI Trust framework for Nigeria - an initiative of national significance and the first of its kind - represents an important step towards building the trusted AI ecosystem required to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness across priority sectors, including agriculture, finance, healthcare, security and education. 

“As a proud Warwick Business School alum, Dr Tijani continues to demonstrate visionary leadership in shaping Nigeria’s digital future. I am proud that Warwick Business School is contributing to this important journey for Nigeria and helping to create a model that can be adapted and replicated across Africa.” 

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