The federal government has stated its plan to position Nigeria as a leading player in the global stage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and regulation.
The Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated this during the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop titled “Developing the High-Level Strategy and Implementation Plan for a National AI Strategy for Nigeria” held in Abuja.
Dr. Tijani emphasized the need for Nigeria to actively participate in shaping the development and regulation of AI, considering the imminent global convergence on AI deployment strategies by major world powers. He stated the transformative potential of AI across various sectors and stressed the importance of Nigeria’s involvement in ensuring that the nation’s interests and perspectives are represented in the global discourse on AI.
The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), aims to formulate comprehensive strategies for the adoption and deployment of AI in Nigeria. With over 120 local and international organizations, professional groups, and academia participating, the workshop seeks to harness Nigeria’s diverse expertise to create an inclusive AI strategy reflective of the nation’s consensus.
Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director-General of NITDA, also highlighted the potential of AI as a transformational technology capable of driving economic diversification and boosting Nigeria’s economy.
