Elizabeth Jack‑Rich, a Nigerian entrepreneur and technology specialist, warned that artificial intelligence (AI) remains undervalued in Nigeria and across Africa because policymakers and investors often ignore the continent’s physical‑infrastructure and resource‑supply requirements.
Speaking at an AI‑focused conference in Washington, D.C., Jack‑Rich emphasized that AI should not be framed solely as a software phenomenon. “Everyone talks about AI as a software story, but it is not. It is a physics story—in power, infrastructure, and the systems required to extract and refine critical resources,” she said. Her comments highlight the dependence of AI systems on reliable electricity, robust industrial capacity and access to raw materials such as rare‑earth elements, cobalt and lithium.
Jack‑Rich noted that Africa’s contribution to the emerging AI economy is frequently underestimated. While the continent does host significant mineral deposits, its potential to develop integrated industrial capabilities that support AI hardware manufacturing and data‑center operations is often overlooked. “What is underestimated is not that Africa holds a major deposit or is a major supplier of these minerals, but the fact that the next decade rewards operators on the continent,” she added.
The remarks come at a time when global demand for critical minerals and energy infrastructure is accelerating. AI models, data centers, and other digital technologies require substantial power and cooling, prompting a race among nations to secure stable supply chains. According to a report cited by Media Talk Africa, the AI economy is projected to add $15.7 trillion to the world economy by 2030, underscoring the sector’s strategic importance.
African leaders have begun to address these challenges. Initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and regional power‑grid projects aim to improve cross‑border electricity trade and create a more predictable environment for technology investments. Several governments, including Nigeria’s, have released policy frameworks to attract AI‑related startups and promote local manufacturing of hardware components.
Nevertheless, gaps remain. Many African countries still face inconsistent electricity supply, limited high‑speed broadband, and a shortage of skilled technicians capable of maintaining advanced AI infrastructure. Without coordinated investment in these foundational assets, the continent risks remaining a peripheral supplier of raw materials rather than a full participant in the AI value chain.
Jack‑Rich’s call for a broader perspective suggests that future growth in Africa’s AI sector will depend on aligning resource extraction, energy production and industrial development with the needs of digital technologies. Stakeholders, from governments to private investors, will need to prioritize the physical underpinnings of AI to unlock the continent’s full economic potential.
