IBM highlights fisks of data gaps for AI advancement in Africa

A new IBM study reveals that while African organisations are eager to accelerate AI adoption, poor data quality, weak governance, and a lack of skills are holding back the continent’s digital potential.

By Nhlanhla Muthe

Greg Premo is responsible for shaping the overall IBM strategy, including the company’s focus on Hybrid Cloud and Artificial Intelligence, across all of IBM’s business units. (This pin esd berated uning AI)

Africa is eager to embrace the AI revolution, but a critical gap stands in the way: trusted, high-quality data.

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A new global study by the IBM Institute for Business Value shows that while African organisations are hungry to accelerate AI use, they often lack the data quality, governance, and skills needed to unlock its full potential.

The research, drawing on responses from 1 700 Chief Data Officers (CDOs) worldwide, reveals a striking imbalance. It shows that 77% of CDOs in the Middle East and Africa are prioritising AI investments, yet only a quarter feel confident their data can support AI-driven revenue models. The shortage of advanced data skills, flagged by 54% of respondents, up from 28% in 2023, remains a major barrier.

Saad Toma, General Manager of IBM Middle East and Africa, believes the solution lies in building modern, open data foundations underpinned by strong governance and a culture of everyday data use.

“Across the Middle East and Africa, leaders are moving fast from AI pilots to real business outcomes. The winning organisations will be the ones intentionally powering AI with trusted, accessible data,” he said.

The implications for Africa are profound and far-reaching. Well-managed data can supercharge digital public services, financial inclusion, e-government programmes, healthcare, agriculture, mining, and education. Clean, governed datasets also make it possible to safely deploy AI in climate modelling, disaster early-warning systems, and citizen-facing services, areas where timely insights can save lives and resources.

The report highlights a shift in the role of African CDOs from “data custodians” to strategic business leaders, with 90% stating their success depends on proving business outcomes. Yet only 28% feel confident explaining data’s business value, underlining a need for better measurement and accountability frameworks.

IBM, with a strong footprint across Africa, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt, has been at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation. Initiatives such as IBM Research Africa, AI-driven pilots in healthcare and agriculture, skills development programmes, and cloud modernisation partnerships with banks and telcos, demonstrate its commitment.

“We are helping clients across the region build a foundation that lets them move faster, make better decisions, and create AI-enabled revenue streams with confidence,” Toma said.

As AI adoption accelerates, the study makes it clear that Africa’s next competitive advantage will depend on building trusted, high-quality data ecosystems and the talent to manage them.