The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned that Nigeria and other African economies risk being excluded from the next wave of global trade unless they urgently invest in digital infrastructure,skills,and AI governance.
According to the WTO’s 2025 World Trade Report,artificial intelligence (AI) could boost global trade by up to 37% by 2040,but only if economies are digitally prepared. For Nigeria,this means closing gaps in broadband,electricity,and digital literacy. Failure to act could deepen inequality and limit participation in an AI-driven economy. “AI has vast potential to lower trade costs and boost productivity. However,access to AI technologies and the capacity to participate in digital trade remains highly uneven,” said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She stressed the need for coordinated policies to ensure inclusivity and shared prosperity.
The report highlights AI’s potential to streamline customs,reduce trade costs,and expand access for small businesses. However,it also warns of rising protectionism,with restrictions on AI-related goods increasing from 130 in 2012 to nearly 500 in 2024. Public awareness remains a challenge. A recent survey in South Africa found 73% of respondents had little or no knowledge of AI,raising concerns about digital readiness across the continent,according to The Conversation. If countries like Nigeria can bridge the gap,incomes could rise by up to 15%,the report estimates. The message is clear: without strategic investment,Africa risks being left behind in a global economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
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