Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming the invisible infrastructure behind Nigeria’s creative economy — transforming how films are shot, photos are edited, and advertising campaigns are executed. Creatives and brands are racing to harness these tools as they position to capture a share of an estimated $434.4 million AI market in the country.
What began as experimental software has moved into everyday production workflows. In film and advertising, AI is compressing production schedules, lowering labour costs, and helping agencies optimise ad spend through smarter targeting and automated creative tests. The result: faster delivery, higher ROI, and more time for creative strategy.
Nigeria’s AI opportunity sits at the heart of a broader digital boom. The country’s digital economy is on track to reach multi-billion-dollar scale by 2026, and growing investor confidence is evident — with Nigerian tech ventures, especially AI-focused startups, drawing significant venture capital interest across the continent. This momentum positions AI not only as a tool for efficiency but as a key driver of jobs, new business models, and exportable creative services.
As agencies, studios, and freelancers adopt AI-led workflows, the competitive advantage will go to those who combine technical fluency with strong storytelling and local market insight — proving that technology amplifies, rather than replaces, human creativity.
