The Federal Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) said it is hosting 120 stakeholders in Abuja starting from April 15 to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) application in Nigeria.
The event scheduled to hold April 15-18, 2024 will focus on the research, application and adoption of AI in Nigeria at the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Workshop, according to Dr. Bosun Tijani, Communications Innovation and Digital Economy Minister.
According to the Minister, one of his earliest Initiatives from start of his term in office is to “properly define and outline a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Nigeria. The need to coordinate and harness the power of AI for national development is a critical element in our journey towards becoming a global player in technology. AI offers us the opportunity to leverage technology to solve some of our most complex and urgent challenges in education, agriculture, healthcare and so much more.”
Moving on, Tijani said he recognised the incredible depth of talent of Nigerian descent scattered all over the world working in the field of AI, which he quickly identified some of these leading researchers and started to engage them in a number of initiatives.
According to him, “from the National Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) to the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Application (4IRTA) Demonstration project, we have worked with several of these talented academics and entrepreneurs towards mainstreaming the application of AI in our everyday lives.”
Following the recent collaborations from FMCIDE’s partners, the workshop will again receive support, to develop a co-created framework for a multi-year strategy and action plan for the research, application and adoption of AI in Nigeria, the Minister said.
Tijani believes that the initiative provides a significant step and strategy that will result in delivering the priorities and implementation approach towards improving lives and growing the nations economy through the application of AI.
