The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria has unveiled a strategic initiative to establish research centers dedicated to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
According to local reports, NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, announced this initiative during the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition in Lagos. Inuwa, represented by NITDA’s Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Aristotle Onumo, underscored the agency’s commitment to fostering a robust technology research ecosystem.
The upcoming research centers aim to drive innovation in pivotal areas such as IoT, blockchain technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), additive manufacturing, AI, and robotics. Inuwa outlined NITDA’s objectives, stating:
“In addition to funding research endeavors, NITDA aims to bolster Nigerian startups in their utilization of emerging technologies to develop new products. The agency intends to establish innovation sandboxes to aid startups in creating practical applications, establishing enterprises, and launching their products into the market.”
NITDA plays a crucial role in nurturing talent through the Nigerian government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, which aims to empower three million Nigerians with technical skills by 2027.
Inuwa acknowledged the possibility of skilled individuals migrating abroad, which could contribute positively to Nigeria through talent exports and increased remittances. Shitij Taneja, managing director of Vertex Next and organizer of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition, highlighted Nigeria’s potential as “Africa’s next Silicon Valley,” citing its youthful population and dynamic startup environment as pivotal strengths.
The conference, held alongside Africa Data Center and Cloud Expo Africa, seeks to attract investors to Nigerian startups focusing on emerging technologies.
Recent discussions between the United States and Nigeria have also highlighted mutual interests in digital economy, emerging technology, and AI, aiming to explore potential partnerships that could enhance economic ties and deepen collaborations in these domains.
Furthermore, the Nigerian government has launched its first multilingual large language model, marking a significant step towards asserting leadership in AI development within Africa.
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