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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has confirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to support Nigerian startups in advancing artificial intelligence (AI) research.
This disclosure is in line with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s “Restore Hope” agenda, which focuses on accelerating diversification through industrialization and digitalization.
The agency’s Director-General, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, reiterated the agency’s position at the Innovate Nigeria 2024 Conference and Expo in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Abdullahi, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Head of the Corporate Planning and Strategy Sector at NITDA, expressed his gratitude to Nova Tech for organizing the conference and stressed the timeliness of the conference in the context of the rapidly accelerating global transformational potential of artificial intelligence. In his thought-provoking keynote address, Abdullahi delves into the government’s role in advancing AI research and its impact on Nigeria’s economic future.
Abdullahi acknowledged the global trend of countries such as the United States and China allocating large amounts of funding to AI research, emphasizing the positive correlation between government investment and AI advancements. He emphasized that the market value of artificial intelligence is expected to exceed US$190 billion by 2025.
The Director-General of NITDA outlined the key measures taken by the Nigerian government to promote artificial intelligence research. These include direct investment in research and development, building collaborative ecosystems, policy development, promoting international collaboration, and supporting education and workforce development. He highlighted how these measures are consistent with the government’s eight-point agenda, particularly the agenda of accelerating diversification through industrialization, digitalisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation.
Abdullahi explained: “The seventh agenda is to accelerate diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation, which resonates with the specific role of government in artificial intelligence research, democracy in digital services We will use this as a basis to create more economic value.”
Abdullahi also emphasized that NITDA’s strategic roadmap and action plan are important tools aimed at improving the country’s artificial intelligence research rankings and promoting digital literacy and talent development. He stressed the need to fund research through a collaboration and partnership framework and highlighted NITDA’s commitment to supporting startups through the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR).
Abdullahi reiterated the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in driving economic prosperity and emphasized the importance of collaboration between governments and ecosystems to explore new areas of knowledge. The government’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence research is not only in line with global trends, but also positions Nigeria as a key player in the growing field of technological innovation.
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