Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s highest-ranked country in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI), placing 38th out of 135 countries. The country accumulated an overall score of 45.93 out of 100 to attain this ranking.
The report, published by the Global Center on AI Governance, assessed countries on how effectively they are building the frameworks, institutions, and safeguards required to ensure artificial intelligence is developed and deployed responsibly.
The assessment covers five dimensions: inclusion and diversity, ethics and sustainability, labour and skills, trust and safety, and AI use in public service. Norway topped the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI with a score of 74.20, followed by Italy (72.71) and Ireland (71.39).
Government Reaction
Reacting to the ranking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, described Nigeria’s emergence as an affirmation of the country’s belief in the adoption of responsible AI. He reiterated that Africa should not only participate in the artificial intelligence revolution but also help shape how technology is governed and deployed globally.
