Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has been named among the world’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence (AI) by TIME magazine.
He joins global tech heavyweights like Elon Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman on the 2025 TIME100 AI list.
The announcement was made by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Isime Esene, who described it as a recognition of the key figures shaping the future of AI.
According to him, TIME’s editors and reporters compiled the list after reviewing major AI developments over the past year and consulting industry leaders and experts.
“The result is a list of 100 leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers who have a stake in the future of AI,” Esene said.
He noted that Tijani’s inclusion reflects Nigeria’s growing leadership in advancing AI for inclusive and sustainable development.
Other notable figures on the list include NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, and Mathew Prince, Co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare.
Nigeria’s AI ambitions
Reacting to the recognition, Tijani said it validates Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a global player in AI.
- He highlighted the National AI Strategy (NAIS), which brought together over 120 experts of Nigerian descent to design a long-term framework for the responsible use and development of AI.
- He explained that the strategy goes beyond policy, focusing on real-world research and demonstration projects across healthcare, agriculture, education, and financial inclusion.
- With support from partners like Google and the Gates Foundation, Nigeria is backing local innovators to scale mature AI solutions, while providing mentorship and resources to ensure their ideas make tangible impact.
Driving innovation and growth
Tijani emphasized that the global recognition aligns with Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy as projected by President Bola Tinubu. According to him, AI will play a central role in driving productivity, boosting innovation, and creating new opportunities for citizens.
“This recognition from TIME further validates our belief that Nigeria can stand as a global leader in the responsible and inclusive deployment of AI.
“With this global recognition, Nigeria reinforces its commitment to leveraging AI to create opportunities for its citizens and contribute to the advancement of responsible technology worldwide,” he said.
- In the publication, Times Magazine noted that entrepreneur Tijani “brings a startup mentality to government.”
- The report specifically praised Tijani for leading the country’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, which aims to equip 3 million Nigerians with technical skills by 2027.
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