Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) research.
Inuwa made this assertion in a statement released in Abuja on Friday by the agency’s Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar.
Speaking at the Innovate Nigeria 2024 Conference and Expo in Lagos, the director-general highlighted the government’s role in driving AI research and its potential impact on Nigeria’s economic prospects.
This, he said, was part of efforts in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at accelerating diversification through industrialization and digitization.
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Represented the agency’s Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy Department, Dr Aristotle Onumo, Inuwa cited global trends where governments including the U.S. and China have allocated significant funds for AI research.
According to him, these countries recognize the potential of their innovative drive and economic growth ability.
“There is a positive correlation between government investment and advancements in AI, and it is projected to have a market value which is surpassing 190 billion dollars by 2025.
“The government has done direct investment in research and development, establishment of collaborative ecosystems, formulation of policies and regulations, fostering international collaboration and supporting education and workforce development,’’ director-general said.
He said that these contributions directly aligned with the government’s eight-point agenda, emphasizing the importance of creating an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive.
“The seventh agenda which is Accelerating Diversification through Industrialisation, Digitisation, Creative Arts, Manufacturing, and Innovation resonates with the specific role of government in AI research.
“This lays the democratization of digital service to create more economic value anchors,” he said.
According to him, the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) is to elevate the country’s AI research ranking and foster digital literacy and talent development.
“There is a need for a collaboration framework to fund research as well as the government’s efforts in nurturing a vibrant innovation ecosystem.”
Inuwa said the agency’s subsidiary, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics was open 24 hours a day to guide, nurture, and support start-ups through the journey of conceptualizing ideas through to impact and commercialization.
NAN
