The AI in Action 2026 conference, organized by Carbon AI, stands poised to become a landmark event in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. Set for Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the iconic Lagos Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, this one-day gathering (running from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM WAT, with some sessions noted to start at 12:30 PM) promises to deliver hands-on, actionable insights rather than abstract theorizing.
Officially titled AI in Action Now Lagos 2026 or AI in Action 2026 – Nigeria’s Practical AI Conference, the event is spearheaded by Debola Ibiyode, CEO and Founder of Carbon AI, who serves as its convener. Described as a non-profit, impact-led initiative “built by an AI engineer for founders and builders,” it prioritizes real-world implementation, ecosystem collaboration, and accessibility especially for students, early-career professionals, and practitioners focused on shipping production-ready solutions.
The core theme, “Driving Productivity, Innovation, and Sustainability Building the Future in AI Together” (with variations emphasizing “AI in Action for Nigeria’s Productivity and Sustainable Innovation”), underscores a shift toward homegrown, ethical, and inclusive AI that addresses
Africa’s specific needs. Attendees will dive deep into technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI Frameworks, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and generative AI, exploring their potential to drive transformation in productivity, sustainable development, climate initiatives, and sectors such as fintech, agriculture, healthcare, and more.
The program features a rich lineup including keynote addresses, panel discussions, hands-on technical workshops, case studies, startup/product showcases of African-built AI solutions, and dedicated networking sessions. Confirmed speakers and contributors include prominent figures such as:
Omotayo Ogunlade (Group CTO, Onafriq)
Victor Ogunbiyi (Founder & CEO, DAWN AI STUDY)
Ehia Erhaboh (PhD Researcher & Co-founder, AI in Nigeria)
Biodun Ogunleye (Honourable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources)
And many others from academia, industry, policy, and startups.
This practitioner-biased event targets software/AI engineers, data scientists, founders, developers, business leaders, educators, policymakers, students, and ICT infrastructure providers. Organizers stress its community-first approach: fostering mentorship, meaningful connections, and tangible outcomes over mere hype.
With Nigeria’s AI ecosystem gaining momentum bolstered by infrastructure projects, talent programs like MEST and NCAIR initiatives, and emerging regulations, AI in Action 2026 arrives
at a critical juncture. It positions itself as a platform for those “ready to build, apply, and lead,” ensuring Africa’s AI journey is responsible, scalable, and locally driven.
Registration is still open but filling fast interested participants should visit the official website at aiinactionnow.com promptly to secure their spot. Tiered sponsorship opportunities are also available for organizations aiming to engage directly with Africa’s emerging AI talent and innovators.
As the conference draws near (just days away as of January 13, 2026), anticipation is high for what could mark a turning point in translating AI promise into practical, sustainable impact across the continent.
