Artificial Intelligence set to propel Nigeria's economic advancement, as asserted by the nation's Tech Minister, Bosun Tijani.

Minister Bosun Tijani Unveils National AI Strategy for Nigeria

Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, recently addressed over 3,000 founders, business leaders, innovators, venture capitalists, and regulators at the Moonshot by TechCabal event in Lagos. During his fireside chat with Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media, Tijani emphasized his commitment to creating a robust technological framework for Nigeria.

Tijani's overarching goal is to be remembered for building platforms, with a three-pronged approach: expanding Nigeria's fibre network, introducing a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) system, and transforming government technology integration.

The first pillar of Tijani's strategy is talent development. He has focused on the Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, which aims to build a pipeline of skilled human capital, positioning Nigeria as a "net exporter of talent." Tijani strongly believes that this gap can be filled by Nigerians and that the ministry's AI push is a means of future-proofing the country ahead of the AI age.

Investing in talent early is crucial for Nigeria's technological progress, according to Tijani. He sees a significant economic opportunity in digitizing the data required by large language models (LLMs), which currently lack substantial context on Africa.

The second pillar of Tijani's strategy is infrastructure. He plans to expand the country's fibre backbone by an additional 90,000 km, bringing the total network to 125,000 km. This move is intended to improve Nigeria's digital infrastructure and pave the way for AI advancements.

Policy support for innovation is the third pillar of Tijani's agenda. He strongly disagrees with the premature AI criticism, stating that a visionary approach should not solely focus on existing problems. Tijani believes that the ministry's recent launch of an AI collective with $1.5 million in funding is a testament to this vision.

However, challenges have arisen in Tijani's first year in office, particularly around the ministry's AI initiatives. Critics argue that Nigeria's AI ambitions are premature, citing persistent infrastructure challenges. Tijani, however, emphasized the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) in positioning Nigeria as an economic powerhouse.

In August 2023, Tijani became Nigeria's Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy. He served in this role until he presented the first edition of the national AI strategy paper in 2024. The ministry unveiled the first draft of the national AI strategy in August 2024.

Tijani sees a bright future for Nigeria's technological advancement, emphasizing the importance of embracing AI and investing in talent to achieve this vision. His strategic approach, with its focus on talent development, infrastructure expansion, and policy support, sets the stage for Nigeria's digital transformation.

Artificial Intelligence set to propel Nigeria's economic advancement, as asserted by the nation's Tech Minister, Bosun Tijani.