From Innovation to Impact: Evaluating Artificial Intelligence’s Contribution to the Triple Bottom Line in Public and Private Sector Project Management in Nigeria

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly reshaping project management practices globally, yet its tangible contribution to sustainable development outcomes in emerging economies remains under-explored.This paper evaluates AI's contribution to the triple bottom line economic performance, social value, and environmental sustainability within public and private sector project management in Nigeria.It examines how AI-driven tools such as predictive analytics, automation, machine learning, and decision-support systems are transforming project planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation across infrastructure, energy, construction, healthcare, and digital service projects.The study analyses AI's role in improving cost efficiency, schedule reliability, and resource optimisation, while also assessing its implications for workforce productivity, skills transformation, transparency, and stakeholder inclusion.From an environmental perspective, the paper explores how AI supports emissions reduction, waste minimisation, and energy efficiency through data-driven optimisation and real-time monitoring.Particular attention is given to Nigeria's contextual realities, including data quality constraints, infrastructural gaps, regulatory readiness, ethical concerns, and capacity limitations that shape AI adoption and impact.By synthesising existing literature, policy frameworks, and sectoral applications, the paper bridges the gap between technological innovation and measurable project outcomes.It concludes that while AI holds significant potential to enhance the triple bottom line in Nigerian project management, realising sustained impact requires aligned governance frameworks, targeted capacity building, ethical safeguards, and inclusive digital transformation strategies.