RIYADH: Nigeria is integrating artificial intelligence into its education system as part of a broader strategy to train its vast youth population for the global tech economy, according to Minister of State for Education Maruf Tunji Alausa.  

Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Human Capability Initiative in Riyadh, Alausa said African nations must embrace AI in education while ensuring that students retain critical social skills. 

“The basic outcome was that we don’t have a choice now, AI has come to stay. We need to now use AI as part of our learning,” Alausa said. “Countries need to infuse AI to help augment and improve education delivery.” 

However, he cautioned against over-reliance on technology, warning that it must not erode children’s social skills. “We have to be sure that it doesn’t leave deficiencies in the skill set, in the social skills of our children,” he added.   

With over 60 percent of Africa’s 1.2 billion people under 30 — and Nigeria’s 220 million population being 70 percent youth — Alausa argued that the continent is uniquely positioned to supply skilled labor to aging economies like Europe, Japan, and the US. 

“Today, Nigeria has 65 million people between 15 and 29, with 5 million entering the workforce yearly,” he said. “We need to train this youthful population in tech skills — software development, cybersecurity, AI, cloud computing — so they can service companies worldwide while staying in Nigeria.”  

Nigeria has launched a digital training academy to upskill university graduates in high-demand tech fields, enabling them to earn online certifications and work remotely for international firms. Alausa urged other African nations to adopt similar models.   

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Alausa toured several academic institutions alongside Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan and praised the Kingdom’s dual-track approach to higher education. 

“Saudi Arabia has gotten it right,” he said. 

He also announced forthcoming collaborations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia in education and skills development. 

“As we learn from Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia can also learn from us,” Alausa added.  

Held under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Human Capability Initiative convened more than 12,000 experts from over 100 countries to address the intersection of education, workforce transformation, and emerging technologies. 

This year’s theme, “Beyond Readiness,” focused on AI, inclusive development, and global equity in skills training.   

With Nigeria positioning itself as a hub for global tech talent, Alausa’s vision aligns with HCI’s goal of fostering cross-border partnerships to future-proof economies.