Nigeria Tops Global Ranking As World's Most AI Excited Nation

 NIGERIA TOPS GLOBAL RANKING AS WORLD'S MOST AI EXCITED NATION

For decades, conversations about artificial intelligence revolved around places like Silicon Valley, London, and Beijing. A new global report suggests the future of AI enthusiasm may be shifting in a surprising direction.

According to findings from the Digital 2026 Mid Year Global Update Report, Nigeria has emerged as the world's most AI enthusiastic country, with 77% of internet users aged 16 and above expressing excitement about artificial intelligence. Ghana followed closely with 73%, while Turkey and Brazil secured third and fourth positions respectively.

The development challenges the long standing assumption that advanced technologies are primarily embraced by developed economies.

Even more striking is data from the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, which surveyed more than 61,000 people across 32 countries. The report found that an overwhelming 92% of respondents in both Nigeria and Ghana believe AI tools are important in their daily lives. In comparison, only 36% of respondents in the United Kingdom and 23% in France expressed similar views.

Experts say the difference lies in how people perceive the technology. While many developed countries are focused on concerns about job losses, privacy issues and automation risks, many developing nations see AI as a tool for opportunity, productivity and economic advancement.

The optimism gap is particularly significant. Research shows that 58% of people in the Global South believe AI will create more jobs than it destroys, compared to just 35% in the Global North.

Saudi Arabia is also making headlines in the AI race. Reports indicate that 81% of CEOs in the kingdom have integrated Generative AI into their businesses within the last year, with most expecting increased profitability and growth from the technology.

Industry analysts believe countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Brazil are uniquely positioned to benefit from AI because they can use emerging technologies to solve local challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, finance and public services without having to follow the same development path taken by older industrial economies.

The message from the data is becoming difficult to ignore. Artificial intelligence is no longer a story being written exclusively in Silicon Valley or Western capitals. Some of the strongest enthusiasm, fastest adoption rates and biggest expectations are now coming from emerging economies.

As the global AI race accelerates, Nigeria's position at the top of the enthusiasm rankings raises an important question:

Can Africa move beyond being a consumer of AI and become one of the world's leading creators of AI solutions?

Sources:

Digital 2026 Mid Year Global Update Report

Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute Survey 2025