Lagos, Nigeria – April 29, 2025 — Abel Aboh, a data and AI expert and board member of Scotland’s The Data Lab, has called on the Nigerian government to urgently embed artificial intelligence (AI) education into school curricula starting from the nursery level, warning that the country risks being left behind in the global digital economy if swift action is not taken.
In an interview with Channels Television, Aboh argued that AI literacy should be treated as a core subject and introduced from early childhood education to university level. “It may sound crazy, but countries like China are already doing this,” he said. “We must shift from merely consuming technology to building and innovating with it.”
Aboh described the continued operation of schools without internet or computers as unacceptable. He emphasized that AI should not be seen as an optional or advanced subject, but as essential to Nigeria’s development. “This is a compulsory thing that needs to happen. We’ve got to embed artificial intelligence as part of the curriculum.”
Although he acknowledged ongoing initiatives like the government’s plan to train three million Nigerians in tech skills, Aboh argued the scale is insufficient. “We should be targeting 10 million young Nigerians right now, not just 3 million,” he noted, referencing the country’s large and youthful population.
He also urged the integration of AI education across Nigeria’s estimated 200 universities and all levels of schooling, adding that it should go beyond coding to include tool development, critical thinking, and real-world applications.
Aboh pushed back against the notion that poverty and hunger should be prioritized over tech education. “People are hungry because they’re not economically active. AI can create income-generating opportunities and jobs,” he said. “It’s time we stop relying solely on traditional farming or manual labour—AI can revolutionize every sector.”
He revealed that Nigeria’s national AI strategy remains in draft form, calling on policymakers to urgently finalize and implement it. He also stressed the need to fast-track the Digital Economy Bill, which remains pending in the legislature.
“The government must set the trajectory with clear policies, then the public and private sectors must move fast,” Aboh said.
His comments add to growing calls for Nigeria to proactively position itself in the global AI race and ensure that its education system equips young citizens for the digital future.