The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani has announced that the government is preparing to introduce a new initiative valued at $1.5 million. The initiative is aimed at fostering the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the country.
This announcement was made during a TV interview, where Tijani discussed the outcomes of his recent participation in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Tijani stated that the funding will be officially launched on October 7th in Abuja with support from Luminate, a global foundation dedicated to ensuring that individuals have access to information.
Also, he noted that the ministry is engaged in the National Artificial Intelligence Trust initiative, in partnership with AI Collaborative. This aims to emphasise the incorporation of local languages in the development of artificial intelligence.
The announcement follows the recent establishment of a N100 million AI Fund by the Ministry in partnership with Google.
Meanwhile, when he was asked about the balance between advanced technological initiatives and tackling grassroots issues, Tijani said that extensive projects might not garner immediate acclaim or be readily comprehensible to everyone.
However, he emphasized the long-term benefits of these initiatives, particularly in areas such as infrastructure development.
Nigeria has been rolling out different policies to drive AI revolution and ensure growth within the tech ecosystem. In fact, Tijani has made AI development the focal point of his ministry’s policy since he assumed office last year.
However, poor power supply, inadequate internet penetration and access to computers might be a big hurdle to the success of these policies.
