The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria has revealed its blueprint for establishing research hubs across the country’s six geopolitical zones, with a focus on cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain.
According to local reports, this initiative was unveiled by NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, at the inauguration of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition held in Lagos. Inuwa, represented by NITDA’s Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Aristotle Onumo, underscored the agency’s dedication to nurturing a robust technological research ecosystem.
These upcoming research centers aim to spearhead innovation in critical domains such as IoT, blockchain, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), additive manufacturing, AI, and robotics. Inuwa remarked:
“In addition to funding research endeavors, NITDA aims to bolster Nigerian startups in creating solutions leveraging emerging technologies. The agency intends to establish innovation sandboxes to assist startups in developing practical applications, establishing enterprises, and bringing their innovations to market.”
NITDA also plays a pivotal role in talent development through the Nigerian government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, aimed at training and empowering three million Nigerians with technical skills by 2027.
Acknowledging the potential for brain drain, Inuwa noted that some skilled individuals might emigrate, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s export of talent and bolstering foreign exchange reserves through increased remittances. Shitij Taneja, managing director of Vertex Next, organizers of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition, highlighted Nigeria’s prospects as “Africa’s next Silicon Valley.”
Taneja pointed to Nigeria’s youthful demographic dividend and vibrant startup ecosystem as crucial elements driving this potential. The conference, held concurrently with the Africa Data Center and Cloud Expo Africa, aims to attract investors keen on Nigerian startups specializing in emerging technologies.
Recent discussions between the United States and Nigeria have also indicated mutual interest in exploring opportunities in the digital economy, emerging technologies, and AI. These deliberations are geared towards enhancing economic ties and fostering deeper collaboration between the two nations in these high-growth sectors.
Furthermore, Nigeria has launched its inaugural multilingual large language model, signaling its ambition to lead AI development in Africa.
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