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Was Nigeria absent or excluded from WAICO? 14 Sep 2026

The rapid advancement of technology is driving profound changes across the world, reshaping economies, societies and international relations. This transformation is undeniable, particularly as artificial intelligence assumes an increasingly influential role in global development and governance. Against this backdrop, representatives from 29 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America gathered in Shanghai on 16 July 2026 to sign an agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO). Its founding members included Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan and Russia. Headquartered in Shanghai, WAICO is a China-led intergovernmental initiative aimed at shaping the emerging institutional framework for the development and governance of artificial intelligence.

WAICO is dedicated to fostering international collaboration in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI develops in a beneficial, safe, fair, and orderly manner for the betterment of humanity. The organisation's founding principles emphasise sovereign equality, multilateral consultation, shared benefits, and adherence to the objectives set forth in the United Nations Charter. Moreover, WAICO aims to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to actively participate in AI innovation, application, and governance.

The establishment of WAICO occurs at a critical juncture in the advancement of global technological landscapes. Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping sectors such as economic productivity, national security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and public administration. However, access to the essential resources required to develop advanced AI systems remains inequitable. Key components, such as computing infrastructure, specialised expertise, reliable energy, high-quality data, and investment capital, are predominantly concentrated within a limited number of technologically advanced nations and corporations.

This inequality has raised concerns that developing countries may become predominantly consumers of AI systems created elsewhere, rather than active contributors to their development and governance. In response, the United Nations has recognised the importance of AI capacity-building, access to high-performance computing, and support for developing countries as vital elements of an inclusive global digital future.

For nations within the Global South, the WAICO initiative could offer significant advantages beyond mere diplomatic visibility; it holds the potential to function as a platform for collaborative research, technical training, knowledge exchange, infrastructure development, and access to artificial intelligence applications. If executed effectively, this cooperation may empower member states to devise locally pertinent solutions in critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, climate adaptation, financial inclusion, and public service delivery.

WAICO also has the potential to empower developing countries by providing them with a stronger collective voice in international discussions related to AI standards, ethics, and safety. This goal aligns with the African Union’s Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which advocates for an Africa-centred, development-oriented, and inclusive approach to AI. The AU strategy highlights the significance of infrastructure, skills, datasets, innovation, governance, and international partnerships in enhancing Africa's AI capabilities.

Today, it is indubitable that Nigeria and China are enhancing their cooperation and deepening strategic engagement in the realm of artificial intelligence. This is evident through various capacity-building programmes, discussions on defence technology, and invitations to participate in multilateral governance bodies. 

Given the nature of this mutual relationship and the potential benefits associated with WAICO, Nigeria's absence from the list of 29 founding members raises important questions that deserve thorough exploration. As Africa's most populous nation, one of its largest economies, and a significant player on the international stage, Nigeria would typically be expected to align itself with an organisation that seeks to promote the interests and technological advancements of the Global South.

Nigeria has a rapidly developing technology sector, a growing community of AI researchers, and a significant population of young technology entrepreneurs. For instance, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has characterised Nigeria as having a fast-growing startup ecosystem with considerable potential to leverage AI for economic diversification, job creation, and inclusive development. The Ministry also stated that Nigeria ranks 1st in Africa above the continental average of 21.79 and 38th out of 135 countries assessed globally in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI), with an overall score of 45.93 out of 100.

Nigeria’s absence, therefore, raises a crucial question: did the country choose not to participate, fail to prioritise the founding negotiations, or was it excluded from the process? Currently, the publicly available evidence does not support the notion that Nigeria was deliberately excluded. WAICO’s official declaration affirms that the organisation is open to all countries. Therefore, it would be premature to label Nigeria’s non-participation as exclusion without clear evidence that the Nigerian government formally pursued membership and was denied.

Absence and exclusion are distinct concepts. A country can be absent for several reasons, such as failing to engage adequately in preliminary negotiations, not responding to invitations, needing additional time to evaluate the agreement, or deliberately choosing not to become a founding member. Nigeria, for instance, might have had reservations about the geopolitical, economic, security, or diplomatic implications of joining a strategically sensitive technology and opted not to participate. All of the above are just possible reasons Nigeria was not part of the foundational WAICO.

Indeed, it is crucial for the Nigerian government to clarify its stance regarding the WAICO initiative. It should provide insights into whether it participated in the consultations leading up to WAICO's establishment, whether it was invited to sign the agreement, and whether it intends to seek membership. Such clarification would aid in understanding whether Nigeria's absence was a deliberate policy decision, an administrative oversight, or a missed diplomatic opportunity.

Let us also not neglect one possible explanation, which may be insufficient coordination among the Nigerian institutions responsible for foreign affairs, digital innovation, data governance, and national security. AI diplomacy crosses conventional ministerial boundaries. Decisions about joining an international AI organisation could involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the National Information Technology Development Agency, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and relevant security institutions. Without an effective mechanism for coordinating these agencies, emerging international opportunities may be addressed too slowly.

Let’s examine Nigeria’s aspirations in artificial intelligence alongside its domestic challenges. The country's exclusion from WAICO should not be viewed as a lack of ambition in AI. Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy articulates a vision to establish the nation as a global leader in responsible, inclusive, and sustainable AI. It highlights key national priorities, including infrastructure, computing capacity, research, talent development, ethical governance, high-performance computing resources, AI-specific hardware and software, sustainable energy solutions for computing clusters, and private-sector involvement. 

Nevertheless, in 2019, the World Bank noted that Nigeria’s broader digital ecosystem also continues to face difficulties. These include gaps in fixed broadband infrastructure, inadequate rural connectivity, financing constraints and unequal access to digital opportunities. Although the country has a vibrant digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, its growth is limited by infrastructure deficiencies, a difficult business environment and inadequate early-stage financing. Looking at the above, it shows that the more urgent challenge is the disparity between Nigeria’s ambitious goals and its ability to implement them effectively. 

Recent initiatives underscore that these shortcomings are critical and must not be overlooked. In 2025, the World Bank took a decisive step by approving funding for a project aimed at expanding affordable high-speed broadband to underserved Nigerian communities and enhancing the country’s fibre-optic network. This ambitious intervention highlights Nigeria’s vast digital potential and the urgent need for substantial infrastructure investment.

It is essential to assert that domestic challenges cannot be used as an excuse for Nigeria's exclusion from global AI institutions. Rather, these challenges make a compelling case for increased international engagement. Global cooperation is vital for Nigeria to address its capability gaps through shared research, technical assistance, training, infrastructure partnerships, and access to essential computing resources.

Staying outside influential institutions limits Nigeria's ability to shape its priorities effectively. It is imperative that Nigeria secures its place at the table to ensure that African concerns – such as linguistic diversity, cultural representation, data sovereignty, employment disruption, and unequal access to technology – are firmly incorporated into the governance of international AI.

The article will adopt an inclusive perspective, intentionally setting aside geopolitical considerations. However, Nigeria's membership in WAICO necessitates a careful evaluation of its strategic interests. As a China-led organisation, WAICO has emerged amidst an escalating global competition over AI models, semiconductors, technical standards, data, infrastructure, and geopolitical influence. Nigeria sustains significant economic and diplomatic ties with China, the United States, the European Union, and other international partners. Therefore, its involvement in WAICO should enhance, rather than unduly constrain, its broader technological relationships.

Nigeria should assess WAICO's governance frameworks, financial obligations, voting protocols, intellectual property protections, cybersecurity standards, and data sovereignty strategies. To see how it aligns with the nation’s development strategy, it is imperative to evaluate whether the organisation facilitates meaningful shared governance among its stakeholders.

An organisation committed to inclusion should give developing countries genuine decision-making authority. African countries should not merely become markets for foreign AI systems or sources of data and natural resources. Cooperation must instead strengthen domestic research, support local innovation and enable participating countries to develop technologies adapted to their own languages, cultures and developmental priorities – this is a call for inclusivity and ownership.

The appropriate Nigerian response should not be one of automatic endorsement or complete disengagement. Instead, Nigeria should commence formal discussions with WAICO, review the founding agreement, and pursue observer status where feasible. The government ought to conduct an interministerial review and consult with universities, technology companies, civil society organisations, data protection specialists, and national security institutions before reaching a final decision.

Nigeria should enhance its capacity for technology diplomacy. It requires public officials who possess a deep understanding of both the technical aspects of artificial intelligence and the geopolitical interests that accompany it. The country ought to seek collaboration through various platforms, including the African Union, the United Nations, regional organisations, and bilateral technology partnerships.

In conclusion, Nigeria's absence from WAICO's founding ceremony should prompt strategic reflection rather than unsubstantiated claims. Currently, there is insufficient public evidence to assert that Nigeria was intentionally excluded. However, its lack of involvement with an organisation explicitly focused on the Global South may represent a significant missed opportunity.

Nigeria must now determine whether to pursue membership in WAICO, remain outside the organisation, or explore similar opportunities elsewhere. Whatever decision is made should be intentional, transparent, and aligned with a clearly defined national AI agenda. In the rapidly changing global landscape surrounding artificial intelligence, absence can itself be a strategic choice – and if left unexplained, it risks allowing other countries to set the rules for the future without Nigeria's participation.

Efem N. Ubi is a Professor at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China, and former Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Nigeria.