The federal government says it has commenced discussions with Google on ways to advance Nigeria’s role in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation.
President Bola Tinubu stated this during in a tweet he posted on his official X handle on Wednesday.
According to the tweet, Tinubu met the Google team in Paris on Wednesday in the company of the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.
“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.
“It is worth noting that Nigeria already has some bright prospects in the AI space, including the likes of Awarri Technologies @awarritech, with whom the Federal Government is currently collaborating to build critical AI software infrastructure to meet the needs of the local market unique to our arts and culture, languages, and society, amongst others, which have mostly been put on the backburner by current existing models. This includes data capture platforms and an LLM for Nigerian languages in partnership with our National Centre for AI and Robitics @NCAIRNigeria.”
Tinubu who said that the partnership conversation with Google aligns seamlessly with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressed his administration’s determination to foster economic diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, and innovation.
“This will empower businesses, create new opportunities, and establish Nigeria as a significant player in the global digital economy,” he said in his tweet.
He further noted that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy will provide strategic oversight, while NITDA @NITDANigeria will spearhead the implementation.
