Nigeria’s Goalkeepers community, in partnership with Gatefield, has launched a report calling for artificial intelligence development to reflect local needs, use indigenous data and improve access to technology across the country.
The report, titled Make This Matter, is a Nigerian-focused adaptation of the global 2026 Goalkeepers Report. It examines how artificial intelligence can address challenges in critical sectors such as healthcare, education and agriculture.
It also warns that allowing market forces alone to determine AI development could leave underserved communities behind, with technology primarily designed for wealthy, English-speaking urban populations.
According to the report, the next 12 to 18 months will be critical in ensuring that AI technologies are developed to meet Nigerians’ needs rather than simply marketed to them.
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The report was launched after an initial engagement with technology ecosystem leaders at the Moonshot event in Lagos last week.
The initiative said it would use findings from the report to engage stakeholders and advocate for national AI strategies that prioritise digital public infrastructure, access to local computing resources and open indigenous datasets.
On healthcare, the report highlighted Nigeria’s shortage of medical personnel, noting that the country has one doctor for every 2,500 people, compared with one doctor for every 200 people in high-income countries.
It proposed the use of AI to reduce routine administrative duties and support patient triage, potentially easing the workload of overstretched healthcare workers.
The report also called for AI systems to be developed with locally relevant datasets and governance frameworks that protect Nigeria’s data sovereignty.
It stressed the need for technologies that support Nigerian languages, including Pidgin, to make AI more accessible and ensure that digital solutions reflect the country’s linguistic and social realities.
As part of efforts to strengthen the local technology ecosystem, the initiative plans to identify and promote more than 25 Nigerian AI innovators, researchers and developers working on solutions to development challenges.
Among the projects highlighted are mDoc’s Kem AI platform, Schoola and Curri AI.
The initiative said it would connect the innovators with public-sector institutions and philanthropic funders to help expand proven AI solutions into state-level public systems.
It also plans to promote responsible AI adoption through multimedia essays, media partnerships and civic engagement, focusing on areas such as primary and maternal healthcare, nutrition and foundational learning.
The Nigeria Goalkeepers community said the initiative would help direct funding and technological innovation towards reducing inequality and advancing public interest.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
