FG assembles 120 researchers, startups to chart Nigeria’s AI future

The Federal Government has unveiled its plan to assemble 120 Nigerian researchers, startups, and other stakeholders in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) domain to collaboratively devise a framework for AI adoption in Nigeria.

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Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, disclosed this initiative on Wednesday, underscoring the importance of the upcoming National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Workshop scheduled to take place in Abuja from April 15th to 18th, 2024.

Tijani said that the envisioned framework would serve as a blueprint guiding the government’s efforts in leveraging AI to enhance livelihoods and bolster the nation’s economy.

He positioned this endeavor as a pivotal milestone in Nigeria’s AI journey, tracing back to his tenure’s inception, where he prioritized the development of a comprehensive AI strategy for the nation.

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Highlighting previous initiatives such as the National Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Application (4IRTA) project, Tijani outlined how collaborations with Nigerian AI talents worldwide have been instrumental in advancing the integration of AI into various sectors.

• “One of the earliest initiatives from the start of my term in office was to properly define and outline a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Nigeria.  
• “The need to coordinate and harness the power of AI for national development is a critical element in our journey toward the use of technology to accelerate productivity in our country.  
• “AI offers us the opportunity to leverage technology to solve some of our most complex and urgent challenges in education, agriculture, healthcare and so much more. 
• “Recognising the incredible depth of talent of Nigerian descent scattered all over the world working in the field of AI, we very quickly looked to identify some of these leading researchers and started to engage them in a number of our initiatives.  
• “From the National Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) to the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Application (4IRTA) project, we have worked with these talented academics and entrepreneurs towards the mainstreaming of the application of AI in our everyday lives.”  

Looking ahead, Tijani articulated the importance of establishing a strategic framework, with the upcoming workshop serving as the platform for co-creating a multi-year action plan for AI research, application, and adoption in Nigeria.

He expressed gratitude for the participation of leading AI researchers and startups, as well as partner organizations, in shaping this strategy.

In a testament to Nigeria’s global AI ambitions, Tijani revealed that over 6,000 AI researchers of Nigerian descent scattered worldwide had been identified, highlighting their pivotal role in the country’s AI endeavors.

With a vision of leveraging AI to drive productivity and smart infrastructure deployment across all sectors, Tijani has actively sought public engagement, encouraging Nigerians to nominate AI researchers to contribute to the formulation of the National AI Strategy.