Schneider Electric has identified artificial intelligence-driven manufacturing as a key driver for Nigeria’s industrial growth, urging stakeholders to prioritise digital transformation, electrification, and circularity to address long-standing inefficiencies in the sector.
Despite its position as one of Africa’s largest economies, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector continues to battle power shortages and infrastructural deficits.
The global firm said Nigeria must embrace advanced manufacturing models powered by AI, smart energy management, and sustainable design to remain competitive and resilient.
“Three transformative trends are emerging as key enablers of this dual pursuit of profitability and sustainability: electrification, digital transformation, and circularity. These are no longer buzzwords but practical necessities for Nigerian manufacturers seeking to stay competitive and future-ready,” Country President, Schneider Electric, Anglophone West Africa, Ajibola Akindele, said in Lagos recently.
Manufacturing leaders around the globe, especially in Asia, are already adopting regenerative, AI-powered processes to unlock economic value.
Nigeria could draw important lessons from countries like the Philippines, where BusinessWorld recently reported on the success of AI integration in manufacturing.
He stated that Schneider Electric believes AI-enabled automation, when paired with intelligent energy systems, can help local manufacturers reduce waste, cut operational costs, and optimise energy consumption. However, realising this vision requires investment in digital infrastructure, particularly modular and energy-efficient data centres.
“As AI adoption accelerates across Nigerian industries, businesses face an exponential increase in data processing needs. This has placed immense pressure on traditional data centre infrastructure, creating a growing demand for scalable, energy-efficient solutions,” Akindele noted.
Schneider Electric stressed that tackling these issues will involve both private and public sector efforts. This includes the deployment of AI-ready prefabricated data centres, the digital transformation of factory operations and supply chains, and the upskilling of local talent in AI, automation, and energy management. It also requires supportive government policies and incentives to advance sustainable industrial practices.
The company is advocating for a shift towards regenerative manufacturing, an approach that integrates circular design, energy efficiency, and digital innovation to strengthen economic resilience and support national development goals.
As more industries in Nigeria explore AI, Schneider Electric says manufacturers must urgently rethink traditional systems and build the infrastructure required to process and manage vast amounts of data reliably.
The call comes amid growing interest in sustainable practices and the country’s broader push for economic diversification beyond oil.
