The Nigerian government is set to unveil a new $1.5 million initiative to bolster the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country, according to Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. Tijani made this announcement during an interview with Arise TV, following his participation in the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The initiative, supported by the global foundation Luminate, will be launched on October 7th in Abuja.
This announcement comes on the heels of the Ministry’s earlier introduction of a N100 million AI Fund in collaboration with Google. However, the tech community criticized this initial fund as insufficient to drive the AI revolution. Addressing these concerns, Tijani explained that criticisms stemmed from a misunderstanding, emphasizing that the government is actively pooling resources for AI development beyond just local funding.
“Our strategy with AI isn’t to limit it to local resources—we are pooling resources together,” Tijani stated. He also highlighted the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Trust in collaboration with AI Collaborative, aimed at promoting the use of local languages in AI development. The Trust will ensure that AI growth in Nigeria is ethical, safe, and sustainable, working alongside the government to drive progress.
As part of the initiative, Tijani noted that as Nigeria develops large language models and digitizes its data, monetizing these efforts will generate funds to support further AI advancements through the Trust.
In discussing the balance between high-level technology initiatives and grassroots challenges, Tijani acknowledged that large-scale projects might not receive immediate recognition or understanding. However, he stressed their long-term significance, particularly in infrastructure development. The government is working on a project to lay 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables across Nigeria. Although it will take 18 months to secure $2 billion in funding and another 2-3 years for full installation, Tijani considers this project vital for the nation’s future.
“I don’t expect immediate applause because it will take time. But I can’t ignore such a project just because there’s poverty; in the short to medium term, projects like this will alleviate many issues,” he said.
Tijani also mentioned the government’s 3 million Technical Talent (3MT) initiative, which is already creating job opportunities for many Nigerians, particularly those trained through its programs. Additionally, the 774 Project aims to connect local government secretariats to enhance grassroots service delivery.
Notably, at the conclusion of the National AI workshop convened by the Ministry in April, Tijani announced the formation of AI Collective, a community of practice working to advance Nigeria’s prosperity through an inclusive AI ecosystem. Following this, Luminate pledged to provide $1.5 million over the next three years to support the work of three organizations managing the AI Collective: Data Science Nigeria, Lagos Business School, and the Center for Journalism, Innovation, and Development. This funding will allow these organizations to collaborate on governance, research, and innovation in the AI sector. The AI Collective operates under the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR).
