The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria has revealed its plans to establish research centers in different regions of the country that will focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain. The announcement was made by NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, during the opening of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition in Lagos. Inuwa emphasized the agency’s commitment to nurturing a strong technology research ecosystem. The research centers will prioritize critical areas including IoT, blockchain, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), additive manufacturing, AI, and robotics. In addition to funding research, NITDA aims to support Nigerian startups in developing products utilizing these emerging technologies. The agency plans to create innovation sandboxes to assist startups in developing use cases, establishing businesses, and bringing their products to market. NITDA is also actively involved in the Nigerian government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, which aims to train and empower three million Nigerians by 2027. Inuwa acknowledged that some trained individuals may leave the country, contributing to talent exports and increasing foreign exchange through remittances. Shitij Taneja, the managing director of Vertex Next, the organizers of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition, highlighted Nigeria’s potential as “Africa’s next Silicon Valley,” citing the country’s large youth population and vibrant startup ecosystem as key factors. The conference, co-located with Africa Data Center and Cloud Expo Africa, looks to attract investors to Nigerian startups focused on emerging technologies. The United States and Nigeria have recently expressed their intentions to engage in discussions on the digital economy, emerging technology, and AI to explore potential partnership opportunities. These discussions aim to strengthen economic ties and foster deeper collaborations between the two countries. Furthermore, the Nigerian government has launched its first multilingual large language model as part of its efforts to establish itself as a leader in AI development in Africa.
Nigeria to Establish AI and Blockchain Research Centers Across the Country