UK and Nigeria team up on AI rules and digital trade standards
- British standards officials held a four-day AI governance workshop with Nigeria's NCAIR in Abuja.
- The talks covered AI risk management, cybersecurity, data protection and electronic waste.
- Officials say shared standards could boost trust, investment and cross-border digital trade.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom are working more closely on how artificial intelligence is governed, how digital trade is standardised and how cybersecurity is handled, according to the British High Commission.
The push was highlighted during a visit by the British Standards Institution (BSI) to Nigeria. The BSI ran a four-day workshop on AI governance with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), under the UK government's Digital Access Programme.
The sessions brought together government officials, regulators and technology practitioners. They looked at how internationally recognised standards could help organisations adopt AI responsibly, manage risks and keep proper oversight. The programme ended with a reception at the Afreximbank Trade Centre in Abuja.
Why this matters to Nigerians
AI tools are spreading fast through banking, health, education and small businesses. Clear rules on accountability and data protection could shape how safely those tools are used, and whether Nigerian firms can sell digital services across borders.
The British High Commission said the visit builds on years of work between the BSI and Nigerian bodies, including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and NCAIR.
Grace Bell, the High Commission's First Secretary for Economic Partnerships and Digital, said good governance and trusted standards are needed for AI's economic gains to be realised.
"Realising these benefits requires the right governance frameworks, strong institutions and trusted standards," she said.
She said the UK-Nigeria work aims to create conditions for innovation, investment, trade and public trust.
The workshop examined standards including ISO/IEC 42001, which sets requirements for AI management systems, and ISO/IEC 23894, which offers guidance on managing AI-related risks. How well these are applied will depend on how Nigerian institutions build them into policies and day-to-day procedures.
NCAIR National Coordinator Dr Olubunmi Ajala said the collaboration had helped shift discussions on emerging technologies towards building institutional capacity inside Nigeria.
The partnership also covers data governance, digital public infrastructure and electronic waste. During the visit, the BSI met the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's climate finance team to review how Nigeria handles electronic waste.
The British High Commission said the UK will keep working with Nigerian institutions on digital transformation and standards-led technology adoption.
What happens next
The sources do not give a timeline for new rules or laws. For now, the focus is on training regulators and encouraging Nigerian organisations to use the international standards discussed.