TLDR: Huawei Cloud recently hosted its AI4Naija Forum in Lagos, Nigeria, under the theme “AI in Action: From Theory to Practice.” The event gathered over 120 industry leaders to discuss the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in accelerating Nigeria’s digital economy and fostering industrial intelligence. Huawei Cloud showcased its latest AI solutions and outlined key initiatives to empower local enterprises and talent.
Lagos, Nigeria – Huawei Cloud successfully convened its AI4Naija Forum in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 31, 2025, bringing together over 120 customers and stakeholders from government, finance, e-commerce, and other vital sectors. The forum, themed “AI in Action: From Theory to Practice,” served as a pivotal platform to explore the vast opportunities and future trajectory of artificial intelligence within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Hugo Hu, Managing Director of Huawei Cloud Nigeria, emphasized the critical role of AI as a “pivotal engine for growth,” enabling Nigeria to acquire new capabilities and seize emerging opportunities. “We hope to be an integral part of this journey and contribute to Nigeria’s industrial intelligence,” Hu stated in his opening address.
Huawei Cloud outlined its strategic commitment to Nigeria through three key initiatives: the Young Nigeria Talent Program, AI Foundation for an Intelligent Nigeria, and Dynamic Nigeria AI Practice. These programs are designed to foster local talent and build a robust AI ecosystem. The company also highlighted its “Cloud for AI” and “AI for Cloud” strategies, aiming to accelerate intelligent transformation across various industries.
Dr. Olusola Ayoola, CEO of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria, delivered a keynote speech titled “AI Empowers the Future of Nigeria’s Industries.” He underscored AI’s growing significance as a core driver of Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic prosperity. Dr. Ayoola suggested that Nigeria could learn from China’s successful AI transformation by prioritizing policy support and talent development to bridge the technology gap, enhance competitiveness, and expedite AI adoption across sectors.
Roc Bai, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the widespread adoption of Huawei Cloud’s AI large models across key industries, including fintech, logistics, transportation, and energy, where they are already delivering substantial value to top-tier customers. Bai also announced the launch of CloudMatrix 384, an AI-native cloud infrastructure designed to provide powerful AI computing capabilities, with plans to introduce increasingly advanced AI technologies and best practices to Nigeria.
The forum also featured an interactive session titled “Build Your First AI Agent on Huawei Cloud,” where participants gained hands-on experience in creating AI Agents from scratch within 40 minutes. This practical engagement covered essential aspects such as knowledge base construction, intelligent Q&A, and information summarization, offering clear insights into AI Agents’ value in applications like automated customer service and business decision support.
Dotun Adekunle, Chief Technology Officer of OPay, further elaborated on AI’s expanding role in the financial sector during his presentation, “Unlocking Financial Innovation at OPay through AI.” He predicted that “by the 2030s, every aspect of daily financial life will be seamlessly integrated with AI capabilities,” underscoring the profound impact AI is expected to have on financial innovation.
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Huawei Cloud reiterated its commitment to accelerating AI adoption, driving innovation, and opening new opportunities for Nigeria and the broader African market, solidifying its position as a key enabler of industrial intelligence in the region.
