The Federal Government is gearing up to accelerate Nigeria’s adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a collaborative effort involving 120 researchers, startups, and other stakeholders.
The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Workshop scheduled for April 15th to 18th, 2024 in Abuja aims to create a co-designed framework to guide AI implementation across various sectors.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, announced the initiative, emphasizing its potential to improve lives and boost economic growth.
He highlighted the significance of the forthcoming strategy framework and his ministry’s commitment to leveraging AI for national development.
He recounted previous efforts, including the National Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Application (4IRTA) project, which laid the groundwork for this comprehensive strategy.
With the participation of 120 leading researchers and startups in AI, alongside support from partner organizations, the workshop aims to devise a multi-year strategy and action plan. This collaboration builds upon the Minister’s earlier outreach efforts, where over 6,000 AI researchers of Nigerian descent worldwide were identified as potential contributors to Nigeria’s AI advancement.
The Ministry aims to harness AI to drive productivity, foster job creation, and deploy smart infrastructure across various sectors.
Minister Tijani’s call for Nigerian AI researchers to join in shaping the national strategy reflects the government’s inclusive approach to harnessing the transformative potential of AI for the nation’s benefit.
