Nigeria is positioning itself as a leader in artificial intelligence and digital innovation, with President Bola Tinubu announcing a potential partnership with Google to advance the country’s role in AI development.
Tinubu revealed details of his meeting with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, in France, where they discussed opportunities to drive AI adoption, enhance cloud infrastructure, and boost digital skills training in Nigeria.
The president emphasized that Nigeria is on the path to becoming a global tech hub, aligning with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic diversification through industrialization and innovation.
According to Tinubu, the Federal Government is collaborating with Awarri Technologies to develop AI software infrastructure tailored to Nigeria’s market needs. The initiative aims to empower businesses, create new opportunities, and strengthen the country’s presence in the digital economy.
The partnership with Google is expected to focus on five key areas: expanding scalable cloud infrastructure, equipping the workforce with AI skills, fostering AI research and innovation, promoting cloud adoption, and elevating Nigeria’s standing in the global tech ecosystem.
Confirming the discussion, Pichai stated on his verified X handle that Google is keen to support Nigeria’s AI development, innovation, and growing tech ecosystem.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has also underscored the importance of AI in transforming key sectors like agriculture, education, and healthcare. Speaking ahead of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Tijani noted that while developed nations worry about job losses from automation, Nigeria’s youthful population—averaging 16.9 years—presents an opportunity to generate new AI-driven employment.
He added that AI has the potential to lower healthcare costs, improve education quality, and drive job creation. While traditional roles may persist longer in Nigeria than in advanced economies, Tijani stressed that AI will fuel economic growth and position the country as a key player in the future global workforce.
