Zoho sees 75% customer growth in Nigeria; unveils AI Privacy study showing the nation's lead in responsible AI adoption
In a groundbreaking study unveiled at Zoholics Nigeria 2025, Zoho Corporation, a global leader in technology solutions, highlighted how Nigerian businesses are setting a global benchmark for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with robust privacy protections. The report, The AI Privacy Equation: The Nigerian Model of Responsible AI Adoption, conducted by Arion Research on behalf of Zoho, showcases Nigeria’s unique approach to balancing innovation with data security. Alongside this, Zoho announced a remarkable 75% customer growth in Nigeria in 2024, underscoring the country’s position as a key market in Africa. The findings, shared during Zoho’s annual user conference in Lagos, paint a picture of a nation that is not only embracing AI but doing so with a privacy-first mindset.
A Blueprint for Responsible AI
- Widespread AI Adoption
The study, which surveyed 386 Nigerian business leaders, reveals that 93% of organizations in the country have embarked on their AI journey. Notably, 31% have achieved advanced AI integration across their operations, while 26.5% have implemented AI across multiple departments. This rapid shift from experimentation to full-scale deployment signals a mature approach to AI adoption. Unlike many global counterparts, Nigerian businesses are moving swiftly, driven by strong executive commitment. Over half of the survey respondents were CEOs or executives, indicating that leadership is a key driver in scaling AI initiatives.
- Privacy as a Competitive Edge
What sets Nigeria apart is its emphasis on privacy protection alongside AI innovation. According to the report, 84% of organizations have strengthened their privacy measures since adopting AI, with 66% describing these enhancements as significant. A striking 94% of businesses now employ a dedicated privacy officer or team—a figure well above global averages. Additionally, 40% of organizations allocate over 30% of their IT budgets to privacy protection, viewing robust governance as a strategic advantage rather than a limitation. This approach aligns with Zoho’s philosophy of building contextual, privacy-first AI models that deliver tangible business benefits.
- Industry Leadership in AI Use Cases
The financial sector, comprising 29% of respondents, is at the forefront of this balanced approach. Key AI applications include customer service automation (49%), software development and enhancement (46%), and marketing optimization (32%). These use cases are implemented with privacy-by-design principles, ensuring compliance and trust. By embedding privacy into their AI strategies, Nigerian businesses are not only meeting domestic regulatory requirements but also positioning themselves for global competitiveness.
Overcoming Barriers Through Skills Development
- Addressing Technical and Privacy Challenges
Despite the enthusiasm for AI, challenges remain. The report identifies a lack of technical expertise as the top barrier, cited by 37% of respondents, followed closely by privacy and security concerns at 35%. To address these, Nigerian organizations are prioritizing upskilling. The study found that 69% of businesses focus on data analysis and interpretation skills, 53% emphasize AI literacy, and 40% invest in prompt engineering for generative AI tools. This human-centric approach underscores the belief that AI success hinges on workforce capability rather than just technology acquisition.
- Regulatory Awareness
The introduction of Nigeria’s Data Protection Act has heightened regulatory awareness, with 65% of organizations reporting increased compliance efforts. Practices such as regular privacy audits of AI systems (57%), data minimization for AI training (57%), and requiring explainability of AI decisions (52%) are now commonplace. This proactive governance not only ensures compliance but also enhances trust among customers and partners, positioning Nigerian businesses as leaders in responsible AI adoption.
Zoho’s Role in Nigeria’s Digital Transformation
- Driving Growth Through Unified Solutions
Zoho’s 75% customer growth in Nigeria in 2024 reflects the rising demand for scalable, privacy-focused technology solutions. Products such as Zoho Workplace (enterprise email and collaboration), Zoho Books (accounting software), Zoho Campaigns (email and SMS marketing), and Zoho One (an all-in-one business suite) are fueling this expansion. Key sectors driving adoption include IT services, financial services, energy, manufacturing, real estate, education, and retail. Zoho’s ability to offer unified, easy-to-implement solutions has made it a trusted partner for Nigerian businesses navigating digital transformation.
- Introducing ZIA: A Privacy-First AI Assistant
At Zoholics Nigeria, Zoho introduced ZIA, its advanced AI assistant designed to enhance productivity across business functions. Unlike many AI providers, Zoho does not use client data to train its models, ensuring maximum privacy. ZIA leverages Zoho’s fully owned technology stack—from data centers to applications—enabling rapid innovation without exposing customer data to third parties. This approach delivers contextual, value-driven AI solutions that integrate seamlessly across Zoho’s 55+ business applications, providing decision intelligence tailored to each organization’s needs.
- The Nigerian Model: A Global Benchmark
The findings reveal the emergence of a distinctly Nigerian model for responsible AI adoption—one that defies traditional trade-offs between innovation and privacy. This blueprint is characterized by a holistic integration of executive-level leadership, privacy-first design principles, workforce upskilling, a customer-centric orientation, and proactive regulatory alignment. Rather than treating these components as isolated initiatives, Nigerian organizations are weaving them into the very fabric of their digital transformation strategies.
This approach is not only enabling companies to innovate with AI, but also to do so in a way that builds enduring trust and competitive resilience. By prioritizing privacy and governance from the outset, Nigerian enterprises are demonstrating that cutting-edge technology and ethical responsibility are not mutually exclusive—but mutually reinforcing.
Michael Fauscette, CEO & Chief Analyst at Arion Research LLC, emphasizes the significance of this shift:
"The Nigerian model challenges the conventional wisdom that AI adoption must come at the expense of privacy. When 84% of organizations are enhancing—not compromising—their privacy posture through AI deployment, it signals a paradigm shift. What we're seeing in Nigeria is a powerful validation of the idea that privacy-conscious AI design doesn’t hinder performance—it enhances it. These businesses are showing that strong governance frameworks are not bureaucratic hurdles; they’re strategic assets that deepen customer trust and ensure the sustainability of AI-driven innovation."
This emerging Nigerian paradigm underscores a broader lesson for global enterprises: responsible AI is not merely a compliance exercise—it is a strategic imperative that can unlock new forms of value, resilience, and societal trust in the digital age.
- Zoho’s Commitment to Nigeria
Zoho Corporation is experiencing robust growth in Nigeria, driven by the rising demand among businesses for scalable, easy-to-implement, and unified software solutions. Nigerian organizations—ranging from startups to large enterprises—are increasingly turning to Zoho to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and support digital transformation efforts.
At the forefront of Zoho's revenue growth in the country are several key products:
- Zoho Workplace: An integrated suite combining enterprise-grade email, office productivity tools, and team collaboration features.
- Zoho Books: A comprehensive accounting solution tailored for small and mid-sized businesses, offering automation, tax compliance, and real-time financial visibility.
- Zoho Campaigns: A powerful email and SMS marketing platform that enables personalized customer engagement and multi-channel campaign execution.
- Zoho One: The company’s flagship offering—a unified operating system for business that includes over 55 integrated applications spanning sales, marketing, finance, HR, and operations.
This growth is being catalyzed by strong adoption across multiple sectors, including:
- IT hardware and related services
- Financial services
- Energy, utilities, and natural resources
- Manufacturing
- Non-IT professional services
- Real estate and construction
- Media and entertainment
- Education
- Retail
With a broad portfolio of over 55 applications covering nearly every major business function, Zoho stands among the most prolific technology companies globally. The company differentiates itself through a vertically integrated model—it develops its own software, owns and operates its data centers, and places a strong emphasis on customer data privacy and security.
Globally, Zoho powers over 130 million users and 900,000+ businesses, including its own operations. The company is privately held, profitable, and employs more than 18,000 people worldwide.
Zoho maintains a strong international presence with offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America—including the US, Canada, UK, Japan, China, Singapore, The Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. In the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, Zoho is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with additional offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Qatar.
Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria, commented on the company’s continued momentum in the region:
"We continue to invest in Nigeria as businesses here accelerate their adoption of technology to grow and scale. The latest study around AI and Privacy proves that Nigerian businesses are leading the way in responsible AI adoption, as they temper the new technology with privacy measures. This mirrors Zoho's philosophy of building contextual and privacy-first AI models that can help businesses realise tangible benefits. We infuse our AI solutions—from conversational and prescriptive to agentic and generative—with business context so that it can provide organisations with decision intelligence.".
As the Nigerian market continues to digitize, Zoho is well-positioned to support its growth with localized strategies, robust product offerings, and a long-term commitment to empowering businesses with accessible, enterprise-grade technology.