By Olaitan Ibrahim
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to becoming a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation following high-level discussions with Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Paris.
The talks focused on a strategic partnership between Nigeria and Google, with key areas including scalable cloud infrastructure, AI innovation and research, workforce development, cloud adoption, and solidifying Nigeria’s position as a top-tier tech hub.
Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s existing strides in AI, particularly through Awarri Technologies, which is collaborating with the Federal Government to develop critical AI software infrastructure tailored to Nigeria’s unique cultural and linguistic landscape.
This initiative, backed by the National Centre for AI and Robotics (NCAIR), includes the creation of local data capture platforms and a Large Language Model (LLM) designed for Nigerian languages.
“This partnership aligns seamlessly with our Renewed Hope Agenda, driving economic diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, and innovation,” Tinubu stated, adding that the initiative would empower businesses, create new job opportunities, and boost Nigeria’s influence in the global digital economy.
He said the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy would provide strategic oversight, while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) would lead implementation efforts.
Tinubu expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to lead in AI and digital transformation, declaring that this collaboration marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the nation’s technological evolution.