LAGOS — African businesses must move beyond mere enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) and adopt a structured, long-term strategy that ensures sustainable integration of the technology, according to a new report by technology advisory firm Verraki Partners.

The firm made the call on Friday during the release of its latest report, AI Readiness Framework for African Businesses, which evaluates the preparedness of organisations across the continent to harness the full potential of AI.

The findings reveal a disconnect between ambition and preparedness: while 87 per cent of African business leaders surveyed said they were confident about implementing AI, only 66 per cent believed they would reach advanced readiness levels by 2027.

“AI will not replace people. But people who use AI will replace people who don’t,” said Olatunde Olajide, Partner, Technology Advisory at Verraki. “Businesses that spurn AI will fall behind those that adopt it to drive growth and efficiency. The future belongs to those who are ready to learn fast, adapt boldly, and act deliberately with AI as a co-pilot.”

The report highlights the technology, financial services, and telecommunications sectors as Nigeria’s most AI-ready industries. However, over 55 per cent of respondents identified regulatory and policy hurdles as key impediments to AI adoption.

Verraki stressed that true AI readiness transcends technical ability. It requires a combination of strategic vision, operational models, digital infrastructure, executive backing, workforce capability, and strong data governance. Any shortfall in these areas, the report warned, could derail AI initiatives before they yield meaningful results.

The firm’s framework advocates a phased approach to adoption starting with low-risk, high-impact applications and emphasises the importance of ethical governance, as well as collaboration between public and private sectors to foster innovation responsibly.

According to Verraki, many African businesses risk wasting resources on AI projects that underperform or fail altogether due to inadequate planning, poor data quality, and insufficient investment in talent development.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly critical to business competitiveness, Verraki’s report calls for deliberate, informed strategies rather than hasty or superficial deployments.