The Nigerian government’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to establish research centers focusing on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain across the country’s six geopolitical zones. This initiative aims to position Nigeria as a leader in AI development in Africa.
NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, shared the agency’s commitment to building a robust technology research ecosystem during the opening of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition in Lagos. Represented by NITDA’s Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Aristotle Onumo, Inuwa highlighted the agency’s strategic vision:
“We are establishing a special-purpose vehicle that will look into these key areas and also establish research centers across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria that will be targeting these six key areas of emerging technologies.”
The planned research centers will focus on critical areas, including IoT, blockchain technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), additive manufacturing, AI, and robotics. Beyond research, NITDA aims to support Nigerian startups in developing products using emerging technologies. The agency plans to create innovation sandboxes to help startups develop use cases, establish businesses, and bring their products to market.
Building Talent and Boosting the Economy
NITDA is also instrumental in building talent through the Nigerian government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, which aims to train and empower three million Nigerians by 2027. Inuwa acknowledged that some trained individuals might leave the country, contributing to Nigeria’s talent exports and boosting foreign exchange through increased remittances.
Shitij Taneja, managing director of Vertex Next, the organizers of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition, highlighted Nigeria’s potential as “Africa’s next Silicon Valley.” He cited the country’s vast youth population and vibrant startup ecosystem as crucial factors. The conference, co-located with Africa Data Center and Cloud Expo Africa, aims to attract investors to Nigerian startups focused on emerging technologies.
Strengthening International Collaborations
The United States and Nigeria recently announced intentions to engage in discussions on the digital economy, emerging technology, and AI to explore potential partnership opportunities. These discussions aim to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and foster deeper collaborations in these areas. Additionally, the Nigerian government has launched its first multilingual large language model, further pushing its leadership in AI development in Africa.
