President Bola Tinubu has announced a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Google to enhance the country’s role in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation.
Tinubu disclosed this collaboration on his official X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday while providing details of his meeting with the Chief Executive Officer, Sundar Pichai, in France.
The President explained that his administration is exploring partnership opportunities which will focus on five key areas.
They include enhancing scalable cloud infrastructure, equipping the Nigerian workforce with essential skills for the future, and promoting AI innovation and research. Also, Tinubu added that the collaboration will as well extend to driving cloud adoption and positioning Nigeria on the global tech landscape for innovation and AI transition.
He ascertained that Nigeria already has a promising future in the AI space, mentioning Awarri Technologies as a testament to this claim. Tinubu disclosed that the federal government is currently working with Awarri Technologies to cater indigenously to the AI needs of the local market.
Further, the president stated that all hands will be on deck to bring this project to fruition. While the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy provides strategic supervision, the National Information Technology Development Agency would oversee the implementation.
Meanwhile, Tinubu also illustrated how the collaboration will support the country’s economy. He explained that the strategy would empower businesses, create new opportunities, and establish Nigeria as a significant player in the global digital economy.
Additionally, the president mentioned that the partnership is consistent with his “Renewed Hope” agenda. This agenda according to Tinubu targets economic diversification through industrialization, digitization, and innovation.
Lastly, President Tinubu expressed optimism about Nigeria taking the lead in the AI and technology space, promising that this initiative is the tip of the iceberg.
