The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish the Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, and Communication Technology Solutions Centre in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), aims to promote research and development in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, data science, and other emerging technologies.
Adaramodu said the centre would serve as a national hub for innovation, collaboration, and capacity-building between government, academia, and the private sector.
“Any nation that fails to integrate AI into its development will be doing so at its peril,” he said. “This centre will equip young Nigerians with digital and AI-based skills for employment and entrepreneurship.”
He described the choice of Omuo-Ekiti as strategic, citing the state’s reputation for academic excellence. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, which is expected to report back in four weeks.
