Investigating the Emergence of AI Startups and Public-Sector Administration in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the integration of AI into public sector administration in Nigeria from 2013 to 2023. The study adopts the neo-institutional theory, integrating historical and sociological institutionalism to analyse how institutional structures, cultural norms, and path dependence shape policy outcomes. Adopting an ex post facto research design, the research utilises documentary data collection and content analysis to analyse the research questions. The findings revealed that government investment in AI R&D during the review period was minimal, fragmented, and lacking in strategic direction. This insufficient investment directly correlated with Nigeria’s peripheral and reactive participation in global AI governance forums. In this light, the government should foster structured public-private partnerships to integrate AI startups and capacity-building outcomes into public sector governance. To bridge the gap between private sector innovation and public sector adoption, the government must create institutionalised pathways for AI startups and capacity-building initiatives to contribute to governance reform. This requires moving beyond ad hoc collaborations to structured, sustainable partnerships.