Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), delivered a resounding message at the Innovate Nigeria 2024 Conference & Expo, held in Lagos. He reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to nurturing startups and propelling Artificial Intelligence (AI) research within the nation.
Highlighting the crucial role of government in fostering AI advancement, Inuwa drew upon global trends. He pointed out how leading nations like the US and China have invested heavily in AI research, recognizing its potential to unlock innovation and fuel economic growth.
"As we witness the meteoric rise of Artificial Intelligence," Inuwa stated (delivered through Dr. Aristotle Onumo, NITDA's Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy), "its seemingly boundless potential promises to reshape every aspect of our lives." He expressed appreciation to Nova-Tech for organizing the timely conference, underscoring its significance given the transformative potential of AI on a global scale.
Inuwa outlined several key initiatives launched by the Nigerian government to bolster AI research, including:
Direct investment in research and development (R&D): Funding cutting-edge AI projects.
Establishment of collaborative ecosystems: Fostering partnerships between industry, academia, and government.
Formulation of policies and regulations: Creating a robust framework for ethical and responsible AI development.
Encouraging international collaboration: Leveraging global expertise and resources.
Supporting education and workforce development: Upskilling the workforce for the AI-driven future.
"These initiatives," Inuwa emphasized, "directly align with the government's 8-point agenda, particularly its emphasis on nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship." He specifically highlighted the 7th agenda, which prioritizes accelerating diversification through industrialization, digitization, and innovation.
Inuwa further elaborated on NITDA's Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, aimed at propelling Nigeria's position in the global AI landscape and fostering digital literacy and talent development. He stressed the importance of forging collaborative partnerships and frameworks to finance research while detailing NITDA's support for startups through the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
"The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics operates 24/7 to guide, nurture, and support startups," Inuwa asserted, "from the initial stages of ideation to impactful implementation and commercialization."
Concluding his address, Inuwa reiterated the transformative potential of AI in driving economic prosperity and underscored the critical role of collaboration between government and the broader ecosystem to explore new frontiers of knowledge. He emphasized that Nigeria's commitment to advancing AI research aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on industrialization and digitization to accelerate diversification and economic growth.
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