Artificial Intelligence and inclusive Development in Nigeria: Ethical and Policy Implications in a Digitally Divided Economy

Résumé

This paper critically examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Nigeria’s economy, focusing on who benefits from its deployment and the ethical and policy frameworks required for inclusive development. AI holds significant potential to transform sectors such as agriculture, finance, health, and education. However, its adoption in Nigeria has been uneven, heavily concentrated in urban centers, and skewed toward specific demographic and economic groups. Drawing on a qualitative, people-centered approach and thematic analysis of secondary sources, the study finds that the primary beneficiaries are elites, young professionals in urban tech hubs, and foreign digital investors. In contrast, rural populations, informal workers, and other vulnerable groups remain largely excluded from AI-driven opportunities. Anchored in the Capability Approach and the Political Economy of Technology, the study positions AI not as a neutral innovation but as a technology embedded within institutional and socio-economic power structures. Without adequate governance, these structures risk reinforcing existing inequalities. The findings highlight significant gaps in ethical AI governance, data protection legislation, and equitable access to digital infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions. By addressing these disparities, the paper contributes to ongoing African digital policy discourse and calls for a shift in AI development metrics from a narrow focus on productivity and GDP growth to broader measures that capture human capabilities, freedoms, and well-being. It concludes with equity-oriented policy recommendations designed to guide Nigeria’s AI adoption toward fostering inclusive development, empowering marginalized groups, Promote local AI research and innovation and ensuring that technological progress benefits society as a whole.