Tech firm arms executives to harness AI’s potential

Reliance Infosystems is making a bold play to weave artificial intelligence into Nigeria’s business fabric, launching a programme recently in Lagos to arm executives with the tools to harness AI’s potential.

The Lagos-based tech outfit teamed up with Lagos Business School for a masterclass, drawing C-suite leaders eager to decode AI’s promise amid a swelling digital economy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Infosystems, Olayemi Popoola, said the initiative seeks to embed AI as a cornerstone of operations.

“AI will be the core of business, like the alphabet and numbers for literacy and math,” he told attendees, pitching the initiative as a lifeline for firms navigating a market where mobile data and digital payments are exploding.

The programme—spanning forums, online networks, and media slots—aims to seed AI literacy among decision-makers, from banks to manufacturers.

Nigeria’s digital surge alights with this move. The country’s internet users topped 120 million last year, and digital transactions hit $713 bn in 2024, per industry figures—a boom fuelled by fintech unicorns like Flutterwave and a government push for cashless trade.

Yet global AI adoption, projected to add $15 tn to the world economy by 2030, according to PwC, is outpacing Africa’s uptake, leaving firms here racing to catch up.

Group Vice President for Digital Success at Reliance Infosystems, Ayodele Akinwumi, stressed AI’s role in leadership.

“It drives efficiency and personalised customer experiences and powers innovation at scale,” he said.

Group Vice President for Data Excellence Eniola Benjamin cited AI uses in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, rideshare, finance, agriculture, energy, and IT security, drawing from global and Nigerian examples.

Chief Operating Officer of Digital Technology Limited, Babajideh Akande, clarified AI’s scope.

“It’s not just automation—it enables machines to reason and judge,” he said, urging a holistic approach focused on governance and organisational change alongside technical adoption.

A member of the Lagos Business School’s strategy group, Dr Nkemdilim Iheanachor outlined success factors for AI-driven firms.

“Businesses must align strategy with operating models, focusing on scale, scope, and learning,” he said, emphasising value creation and retention.