By Deborah Nnamdi
The federal government has announced a partnership with tech giant Google, saying it will leverage the partnership to make Nigeria a hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The FG disclosed the partnership on Wednesday via a statement.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said he held crucial discussions about advancing Nigeria’s role in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation with the CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai.
FG said, “We are also exploring partnership opportunities with Google, which will focus on five key areas: enhancing scalable cloud infrastructure, equipping our workforce with essential skills for the future, promoting AI innovation and research, driving cloud adoption, and elevating Nigeria’s standing in the global tech landscape as a hub for innovation and AI transition.”
Tinubu said Nigeria has some bright prospects in the AI space.
He disclosed that the government is already working with Awarri Technologies to build critical AI software infrastructure to meet the needs of the local market unique to Nigeria’s arts and culture, languages, and society, amongst others, which have mostly been put on the backburner by current existing models.
“This partnership conversation with Google aligns seamlessly with our Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes economic diversification through industrialization, digitization, and innovation. This will empower businesses, create new opportunities, and establish Nigeria as a significant player in the global digital economy,” FG said.
He further revealed that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy will provide strategic oversight, while NITDA will spearhead the implementation.
Similarly, Google’s CEO said the partnership would help Nigeria to realize its potential as a technology hub for the continent.
“It was great meeting with President Tinubu @officialABAT. We talked about the immense potential of AI in Nigeria, and how we can partner to expand AI skills, enable innovation, and support Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem,” the CEO said.
