By John Ogunsemore
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has been named on the 2025 TIME100 AI list, alongside global figures like Pope Leo XIV and Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa.
The prestigious list, unveiled by TIME Magazine on August 28, recognises 100 individuals shaping the future of artificial intelligence across sectors like technology, governance, and ethics.
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The TIME100 AI list, now in its third year, categorises honorees into leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers.
Other notable figures include tech executives Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg, as well as the UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Tijani’s inclusion highlights Nigeria’s growing influence in the global AI landscape.
As minister, he has spearheaded the National AI Strategy (NAIS), developed with over 120 Nigerian experts, focusing on ethical AI applications in healthcare, agriculture, and education.
His flagship 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program aims to train 3 million Nigerians in technical skills by 2027, with nearly 300,000 already trained through digital platforms and 220 in-person centres.
“This honour reflects the collective effort of innovators and partners who believe in AI’s potential to transform societies,” Tijani said in a post on X.
Pope Leo XIV was recognised for his advocacy on the ethical implications of AI.
His name choice is a tribute to Leo XIII, who served during the Industrial Revolution at the close of the 19th century, and railed against the new machine-driven economic systems, converting workers into commodities.
Upon assuming the papacy in May, Leo XIV told the world that as artificial intelligence ushered in a “new industrial revolution,” the technology would require the “defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”
In his June 2025 statement, he emphasised that “AI must serve humanity,” positioning the Vatican as a key voice in ensuring AI aligns with moral principles.
Pope Leo XIV’s inclusion indicates the growing intersection of technology and spirituality in global AI discussions.
Strive Masiyiwa, founder of Econet and Cassava Technologiepps, earned his spot for addressing Africa’s AI infrastructure gap.
In March 2025, Cassava partnered with Nvidia to build Africa’s first AI factory in South Africa, providing 3,000 GPUs for rent to support AI development.
Plans are underway to expand similar data centres to Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco, with potential investments of up to $720 million over four years.
“We’re enabling African entrepreneurs to develop AI workloads and build innovative products,” Masiyiwa wrote on LinkedIn.
TIME’s editors compiled the list through months of research, consulting industry experts and past honorees to identify those driving AI’s global impact.
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