The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced the government’s plan to launch a $1.5 million initiative aimed at accelerating Artificial Intelligence (AI) development in Nigeria. This initiative, which will be officially unveiled on October 7th in Abuja, represents another step in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its AI capabilities and enhance its digital economy.

Tijani made the disclosure during an interview with Arise TV, following his participation in the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He revealed that the $1.5 million fund is being provided by Luminate, a global foundation committed to ensuring that people have access to information, rights, and the ability to influence decisions that impact their lives.

This announcement comes just weeks after the government launched a N100 million AI fund in collaboration with Google. However, the initiative faced criticism from the tech community for being too small to make a significant impact.

Addressing these concerns, Tijani clarified that the criticism stemmed from a misunderstanding, explaining that the N100 million fund was only a part of broader efforts to attract more resources.

“Our strategy with AI isn’t to limit it to local resources—we are pooling resources together.

On the 7th of October in Abuja, or we are launching an additional $1.5 million in support from Luminate,” the Minister emphasized.

Tijani also revealed that the Ministry is working on establishing a National Artificial Intelligence Trust in collaboration with the AI Collaborative. This trust will focus on ensuring that AI development in Nigeria is ethical, safe, and sustainable, with particular attention to the inclusion of local languages in AI development.

“As we build our large language models and digitize our data, we’ll be able to monetize these efforts, with proceeds going back into the Trust to support further AI development,” he stated.

The Minister also touched on balancing high-level technological advancements with addressing grassroots issues.

While acknowledging that large-scale projects may not receive immediate recognition, he stressed the long-term benefits of such initiatives, particularly in terms of infrastructure development.

“Technology’s role in society is to enable progress, and that doesn’t happen overnight,” he said, referencing the government’s ongoing project to lay 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables across Nigeria.

He noted that while the project would take 18 months to secure $2 billion in funding and 2-3 years for full installation, it would be vital for the nation’s future.

Additionally, Tijani highlighted the government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MT) initiative, which has already created job opportunities for Nigerians, especially those trained under its programs.

He also mentioned the 774 Project, which aims to connect local government Secretariat to improve grassroots service delivery.

The new AI initiative follows the National AI Workshop held in April, where the Ministry launched the AI Collective, a community of practice focused on building an inclusive AI ecosystem in Nigeria.

Luminate’s $1.5 million funding will support the work of three key organizations—Data Science Nigeria, Lagos Business School, and the Center for Journalism, Innovation, and Development—over the next three years. These organizations will bring together experts from various sectors to drive research, governance, and innovation in AI development.

The AI Collective is hosted at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in Abuja.

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During the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Bola Tinubu, in collaboration with the World Bank and Microsoft, introduced the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) aimed at empowering Nigerian youth.

Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s spokesperson, emphasized that this initiative signifies a bold move by the federal government to bolster Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

Representing President Tinubu at the event was Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.NATEP’s primary objective is to establish Nigeria as a prominent hub for talent outsourcing in Africa, taking inspiration from successful models in India, Bangladesh, Mexico, and the Philippines.

The program was unveiled at Microsoft’s New York office, attracting dignitaries from multilateral institutions and global tech giants.Prominent attendees included Saadia Zahidi from the World Economic Forum, John G. Coumantaros, Chairman of the US-Nigeria Business Council, and Dr. Floriezelle Liser, President and Chief Executive of the Corporate Council on Africa.

Additionally, experts from organizations like Outsource Global, NITDA, Google, Amazon AWS, and Microsoft were present, both in-person and online.Dr. Uzoka-Anite highlighted NATEP’s significance as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will position Nigeria as a global leader in service exports, talent sourcing, and talent exports.

The program will address the unique needs and challenges of the talent and service export industry, emphasizing competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable growth through service trade.

Furthermore, NATEP aligns with President Tinubu’s agenda for job creation, aiming to generate one million in-demand jobs across Nigeria over a five-year period.

The initiative holds the potential to create jobs, attract foreign exchange through remittances, and contribute substantial tax revenue to state governments.

Saadia Zahidi from the World Economic Forum expressed her support for NATEP, emphasizing its importance in addressing skills and job-related issues.

The WEF expressed readiness to collaborate with Nigeria on this transformative initiative.Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, pledged his ministry’s collaboration and support to ensure NATEP achieves its objectives.

He stressed the critical role of talent in the global economy and the need to attract and retain top talents.Speakers at the event lauded NATEP as a pivotal national initiative that could significantly impact Nigeria’s economic prospects, akin to India’s success in attracting talent exports worth over $300 billion annually.

A panel discussion moderated by the National Coordinator of NATEP, featuring panelists Amal Hassan, Ola Williams, and Adaora Ikenze, garnered positive feedback and commitment from participants to support the NATEP initiative.

The event concluded with the unveiling of the NATEP logo, symbolizing Nigeria’s readiness to become a global hub for talent exports.

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