AI Could Run Africa Better Than Politicians

The Big Idea

Growing up in Nigeria, I saw something amazing. Our streets were safe. Water came from the tap. Families like mine traveled at night across the country and feel secure. The middle class was strong.

Then things changed.

After 1999, Nigeria tried a new plan: make the government smaller and let private companies handle more things. Some parts of the economy grew fast. But everyday life got harder for many people. Crime went up. Public water stopped working. Good jobs became hard to find. Many talented Nigerians left home to find better lives elsewhere.

Today, I believe we can fix this. And the answer will surprise you: smart running of African governments powered by AI.

What Went Wrong?

Think of it like this. Imagine your school fired most of the teachers and said, “The students will figure it out on their own.” Some smart kids do okay. But most would struggle. That’s what happened to our public services.

When we shrunk the government too much, important things broke:

• Clean water systems stopped working well
• Hospitals ran out of medicine
• Schools needed more teachers and books
• Police couldn’t keep neighborhoods safe

The lesson? Markets are tools, not magic solutions. Private companies are good at many things. But they can’t replace everything a government should do.

A Simple Rule for Every Policy

Before we make any new rule or law, we should ask two questions:

1. Does this make daily life better for people?
2. Does this protect our planet and natural world?

If the answer is no, we need to change the plan. It doesn’t matter if someone calls it “capitalist” or “socialist.” Those labels don’t feed families or clean water.

Six Smart Moves to Rebuild Trust

Here’s my plan to use AI and modern tools to make government work again:

Move 1: Put AI at the Heart of Government

AI can handle boring paperwork fast. Things like:

• Giving out permits and licenses
• Keeping track of records
• Processing applications
• Managing budgets

This means we need fewer workers in the civil service doing repetitive tasks. But the workers we do have should be well-paid experts who manage the AI systems and help citizens.

We should also create public dashboards where everyone can see how government money gets spent. Update them every week. Let citizens track progress on every project.

Move 2: Keep Essential Services Public

Some things are too important to leave to profit alone:

• Clean water
• Basic healthcare
• Elementary education up to Technical schooling level
• Public safety

These should be run by the local government with clear rules. Use scorecards that show how well each service works. Let communities grade their local clinics and schools. Fire leaders who don’t deliver results.

Move 3: Build Modern Government Companies

For big infrastructure like power plants and trains, create government-owned companies that run like businesses. Give them:

• Professional boards with experts
• Clear performance goals
• Public reports anyone can read
• Partners from top global companies who know how to run such companies well

The government keeps control of the mission. But we bring in world-class operators to make things actually work.

Move 4: Use Resource Money for People

Nigeria has oil. Other African countries have minerals. That money should go directly to help citizens through a Sovereign Social Fund. Use it to pay for:

• Free vaccines and basic healthcare
• School meals made with food from local farms
• Fair salaries for teachers, nurses, and police officers
• Food banks and shelters in every community
• Public Buy boards the set production quotas, price floors and guaranteed procurement for farmers & artisan miners – reducing exploitation

Make every dollar traceable. From the oil well to the classroom. No more mystery about where the money goes.

Move 5: Reward Companies That Help Society

Keep markets open for business. But give special benefits to companies that:

• Hire local workers and treat/pay them well (above global poverty thresholds)
• Train young people in valuable skills
• Use clean, safe operations
• Support their communities

Require simple reports on social impact. Give tax breaks to high performers. Punish companies that harm people or the environment.

Move 6: Let Young Leaders Take Charge

Africa’s population is young. Our average age is under 20 in many countries. So our politics must reflect that energy and digital skill.

Older leaders should advise. But young people should lead. We need fresh ideas, technical knowledge, and the urgency that comes from building your own future.

Why does anyone above 60 years old want to lead the youth?

The Question: Can AI Run Government?

Here’s a bold idea worth debating:

What if AI systems helped make government decisions instead of politicians?

Think about it. AI can:

• Analyze data without personal bias
• Process information faster than any human
• Predict problems before they become crises
• Work 24/7 without getting tired or corrupt

The benefits:

• Decisions based on facts, not politics
• Less waste and corruption
• Faster responses to citizen needs
• Better planning for the future

The challenges:

• People need to trust the technology
• We must protect privacy and data
• Systems could have hidden biases
• Who controls the AI systems?

I don’t have all the answers. But I know we should explore this carefully. AI governance might be Africa’s chance to leapfrog old, broken systems.

What do you think? Comment below with your view.

Why This Middle Path Works

When basic needs are met, amazing things happen:

• Crime drops because people have what they need
• Businesses thrive when they have reliable power and water
• Investors come when rules are clear and stable
• Young people stay home instead of leaving for other countries

We’ve seen pieces of this work before in Africa. Now we can update it for the AI age with transparency, data, and citizen voice.

What I’m Building

Over the next two years, I want to help create:

• AI-powered government that costs less and works better
• Trustworthy public companies focused on serving people, not political favors
• A real safety net so families can breathe, learn, and build
• Open markets that reward social good, not just extraction
• Youth-led leadership based on service and results

Your Turn (What You Can Do)

If you’re a young African ready to run for office in 2027—send me a message saying “READY.”

If you’re living abroad and want to support credible young candidates—send me “ALLY.”

If you work in policy, AI, operations, or finance and can help build this, please comment with one concrete idea. We can test this idea in a city this year.

We don’t have to choose between chaos and old ideology. We can put people and planet first—and be practical about how to get there.

Let’s rebuild the African middle class. Let’s set a new model for the world.

Onwards.

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