Nigerian workforce faces defining moment as AI reshapes future of work
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a defining force in how businesses operate and how people work, yet anxiety is sparked among Nigerian employees who fear that automation may replace their jobs rather than enhance them.
Nigeria currently stands ahead of many global averages in AI adoption, with remarkable potential for productivity gains, innovation, and economic growth. However, unless the country urgently addresses its widening skills gap, strengthens its digital infrastructure, and solidifies policy frameworks, millions of Nigerians risk being left behind as the world transitions toward AI-driven work.
According to PwC’s 2026 Global Digital Trust Insights Report, while AI adoption is accelerating globally, skills shortages remain a major barrier. Half of respondents (50 percent) cited a lack of knowledge in applying AI to cybersecurity as a key challenge, while 41 percent pointed to insufficient technical expertise.
Another PwC report predicts that AI could replace up to 40 percent of jobs by 2030, with the financial sector among the most vulnerable. Service-oriented roles such as food preparation, cleaning, and transportation are also at high risk of automation.
“While these changes can have negative short-term impacts, they also open opportunities for workers to upskill and take on more fulfilling roles,” the report noted.
Femi Osinubi, consulting and risk services leader at PwC Nigeria, stressed that Nigerian firms must go beyond adopting AI tools to developing local talent. “Combining technology and skills is key to protecting Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure.”
Over the last decade, companies have increasingly transitioned to digital systems to store data, reduce paperwork, and expand business reach. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this shift, forcing firms to adopt remote work models and digital communication tools.
Technology became the bridge that sustained business continuity through lockdowns and restrictions, which is a change that has since evolved into a new normal powered by AI.
A global survey by Ipsos and Google found that 70 percent of Nigeria’s online population has used generative AI, which is far above the global average of 48 percent. Among these users, 93 percent employ AI for work-related tasks such as brainstorming, drafting, or problem-solving, compared to 74 percent globally.
Similarly, a Zoho/Arion Research report revealed that 93 percent of Nigerian organisations have adopted AI, with 31 percent already operating at advanced levels of integration.
However, readiness remains a major challenge. Nigeria ranks 18th out of 54 African countries in PwC’s AI Talent Readiness Index with a score of 37.7, trailing behind South Africa (52.1), Tunisia (51.8), and Kenya (49.7).
A GetBundi survey reports that over 85 percent of Nigerian graduates lack essential digital skills, while a Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) report shows that 65 percent of employers identify the skills gap as a major barrier to transformation.
Uchenna Uzo, professor of marketing at Lagos Business School, said the first step is to accept AI as a skill, not a threat. “The workforce must realise that most jobs are now replaceable if we don’t embrace AI as a competency to develop,” he said.
“Beyond mindset, workers need to understand AI’s capabilities, regulatory frameworks, and how to integrate the technology into daily practice,” he said.
Uzo emphasised that reskilling should start with data literacy. “AI runs on data. Every worker must be data-centric. Without quality data, AI cannot function effectively,” he added.
He recommended short AI courses, both free and paid, and encouraged organisations to invest in AI tools for experimentation and learning.
Obiageli Nwobi, managing consultant at HR Allied Services Ltd, noted that AI is already part of everyday work. “From personalised recommendations to research tools, many people use AI daily without realising it. The future workforce will not only be assisted by AI but will be shaped by it.
“The focus is shifting from jobs to skills, and success will depend on human-AI collaboration,” she said.
Emmanuel Asika, digital equity expert and former country director of HP Inc., said, “If we are serious about preparing Nigeria’s workforce for an AI-powered world, we must stop treating AI like rocket science and start treating it like oxygen, which is essential, everywhere, and evolving.
He outlined a five-step roadmap that maps the skills gap by identifying who’s at risk and what new roles are emerging; tier the training, which is from basic AI awareness to sector-specific and deep-tech paths; forge public-private partnerships, which is collaboration because government alone won’t suffice.
He added that there is a need to create portable credentials because skills should be stackable, verifiable, and job-linked; there is also a need to establish feedback loops to measure progress, adapt, and iterate.
“Reskilling is not charity, it’s national defense. AI will not wait for us to catch up,” Asika noted.
