Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani and NITDA DG, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi at the National AI Strategy Workshop in Abuja.

As part of efforts to align and implement the priority area of the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda of Accelerating Diversification through Industrialisation, Digitisation, Creative Arts, Manufacturing and Innovation, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy(FMCIDE) has organised a workshop that would co-create  National Artificial Intelligence Strategy which will leverage Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach to formulate a strategy that focuses on the needs of not only Nigeria but the world in general.

The 4-day stakeholders’ strategy workshop with the theme “Developing the High-Level Strategy and Implementation Plan for a National AI Strategy in Nigeria”, had in attendance, key industry players from the private sector, public and global experts who brainstormed on the transformative potential of AI in reshaping societies worldwide.

In his opening remark, the Minister, FMCIDE, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani reminded participants of their collective responsibility in harnessing the power of AI for the betterment of humanity and urged them to embrace a future where connectivity and innovation served as catalysts for national and global development.

While highlighting the profound impact of digital technology on human interactions and societal norms, he emphasized the need for inclusive participation in shaping the trajectory of AI development.

“Digital technologies are also quite transformational because of their scope. Not only do they connect, but they allow us to transform nearly every aspect of our lives as humans,” he added.

The Minister emphasised that inclusive dialogue and cooperation were  essential elements in shaping a future where AI serves the collective good and called for unity among the participants to embrace conflicting views that could emanate from their brainstorming on AI development.

While challenging participants to rise above ideological differences and embrace a vision of AI that transcended national boundaries, Dr Tijani averred that “I’m challenging each one of us that will participate in this workshop not to be too focused on strategies in building AI that is limited to Nigeria or Africa but to the world.”

“Let us show leadership globally so that the world could be converging and not diverging when we talk AI because these set of technology tools and products that will be built from this workshop can be used across borders,” he noted.

In his remark, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo stated that AI had the potential to transform the Nigeria’s economy in different sectors from enhancing healthcare to increasing productivity in agriculture and government operational efficiency as well as increasing educational development.

“As we gather here, we are not just proud of this strategy for Nigeria, we are laying the foundation for the future where AI is going to be an integral part of all aspects of Nigerians’ lives.”

He said, “It is essential that we develop a strategy that is not only theoretically sound but also practical and implementable within the general context, while taking into cognisance, our cultural values, traditions, norms and specific needs to increase our national security and sovereignty.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasised the significance of leveraging AI not only as  technological tool but as a catalyst for broader societal change.

The NITDA DG underscored the imperative of harnessing the transformative potential of AI for the betterment of Nigerian society with emphasis on not only developing a strategy for AI but also developing a strategy with AI.

“Our vision for this strategy is clear. It is to harness the power of AI to derive values from it while harnessing its potential and avoiding its errors,” he noted.

While stating that technology is like a double-edged sword with its promises and pitfalls, Inuwa said that the uniqueness of the workshop is not only to discuss but to actively share ideas through cognitive processes.

“This approach is fundamental because it will help us to use our diverse insights and expertise in creating a strategy that will be inclusive as well as reflecting our national consensus,” he averred.

The NITDA DG asserted that the strategy would help in making significant advancements toward achieving Mr President’s economic transformation in priority areas of national security, boosting agriculture to achieve food security, increasing the nation’s GDP, unlocking energy and transportation potentials as well as improving the healthcare sector among many others.

“Our success depends on our ability to work together across government, academia, industry and civil society in bringing our unique perspectives to this strategy which will help us craft not just an innovative strategy but a practicable and implementable strategy that will lay a foundation for a prosperous nation for Nigerians,” he concluded.

The highlight of the workshop was the breakout sessions with industry and global experts sharing insights on contextualising AI strategy, setting directional beacons for Nigeria’s AI, developing a national vision and goal setting for AI in Nigeria.

At the end of the workshop, participants who were grouped into syndicates which include; AI Ethics and Social Impact, AI Infrastructure and Ecosystem in Talent, AI Talent and Workforce Development, AI Research and Innovation, AI Adoption and Sector Focus, AI Policy and Governance, AI International Collaboration and Engagement, AI Safety and Regulations gave presentations on various strategic initiatives, roadmap development and thematic visioning needed for the development of a robust AI Strategy document.

While giving his vote of thanks, Dr. Tijani thanked NITDA, Nigerian Communications Commission, Galaxy Backbone, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Data Science Nigeria, Microsoft, Google, Meta, the academia and a host of other public and private organisations for their invaluable contribution to the success of the workshop.

Expressing his excitement at the active engagement by participants at the workshop where in-depth ideas and experiences were shared, he said that he was confident that a robust National AI Strategy which Nigerians could derive value from would be developed for the benefit of the nation and the world.

Lagos State University (LASU)’s Prof. Oluwatoyin Enikuomehin has been honoured with a merit award in information technology at the 2023 Prime Excellence Recognition Awards.

Prof. Enikuomehin is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Lagos State University and the incumbent Director, Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) of the Lagos State University. He has a Ph.D in Computer Science with more than 20 years experience in public sector ICT operations and Intrusion Management systems. He has been involved in the establishment, management and administration of several ICT Centres in many West African States.

Prof. Enikuomehin who is a  fellow of the British Computer Society(BCS) was honoured by the organisers of the award for his undying passion for the development of ICT in Nigeria and across the globe.

Prof. Oluwatoyin Enikuomehin while receiving the award at 5th edition of PERA described the award as prompt for recognising those making impact in the digital tech space.

According to him, “Over the years, I think it is worth while to know that we’ve done a lot things in the space of ICT, to actually put our youths in the proper perspective. This century is started to be driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and if you look at what is happening all around us, you will see that technology is taking over the space, so the time is now for everyone to connect to the advancement that technology is bringing forth.

We’ve  started to see 5G and so much opportunity contained therein, so therefore there’s no need to wait longer, this award is an award at the right time, coming to recognise those making impacts in the society.”

Speaking on the positive and negative effect of technology, he urged media practitioners to be an advocate of the endowment of technology, creating the awareness that Artificial Intelligence will not take away jobs but rather help improve the capability of our brain.

Rating the digital economy in Nigeria, Prof. Toyin noted that the government is keying into the global authority lead on digital technology advancement and urged that the citizens to support the government in keying into it.

“We can’t make evaluations at this time, all we need to do at this time is to still observe for some months but we see that there is a commitment but the first level is digital awareness, we must get everybody ready for the digital inclusion.

Let everybody we aware that technology is coming, which will help us improve how we live, work and sustain ourselves”.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu has seek synergy between government, industry, academia and civil society for the digital creative industry to thrive in Lagos and its environs.

The governor made this call while declaring open the Art of Technology Lagos 5.0 conference with the theme; ‘The Creative Economy and a digital Lagos, held at the Landmark event Centre.

According to him,”Excited to open the Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos 5.0 Conference themed ‘The Creative Economy and a Digital Lagos’.

Today, I highlighted our commitment to synergy between government, industry, academia, and civil society for a thriving digital heartbeat in Lagos”.

He said Lagos State initiatives for the creative industry, such as Investment in Infrastructure and Technology, Lagos Film City, Collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to support Intellectual Property Rights, a dedicated Lagos State Science, Research, and Innovation Council (LASRIC) cohort for the Creative Economy and the Lagos Innovation Bill, among others have yielded positive results.

Governor Sanwo-Olu promised that his administration will accelerate actions to ensure the Lagos Innovation Bill is signed into law within the first quarter of 2024, adding that the innovation bill when signed into law would increase employment opportunities in the creative industry, enhance competitiveness and foster economic development among others through collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in the creative sector and government.

He said: “Lagos has solidified its status as Africa’s foremost fashion and creative hub, emblematic of our shared commitment to technological advancement. Notably, the music industry has burgeoned into the second-largest in Africa, boasting an annual revenue exceeding $2 billion. This achievement is underscored by our artists receiving prestigious accolades such as Grammys, and the proliferation of international streaming services attests to the industry’s global resonance.

“The transformative impact of technology on Lagos’s development is profound. Over the past decade, technology has propelled a remarkable 500 percent increase in productivity across pivotal sectors, ranging from agriculture to manufacturing. Our smart city initiatives have not only enhanced the efficiency of public services but have also significantly elevated the overall quality of life for our residents.

“Our journey towards a Digital Lagos propelled by the Creative Economy is backed by robust figures and data. It is a collective endeavor that requires the synergy of government, industry, academia, and civil society. Together, we will build a future where innovation knows no bounds, where creativity flourishes, and where the digital heartbeat of Lagos resonates across the globe.

“I trust that the discussions initiated at this conference, along with the resulting outcomes, will pave the way for a threefold increase in the value of the creative ecosystem. May this gathering serve as a guiding beacon, directing us toward a future where the convergence of technology and creativity collaboratively shapes a brighter tomorrow for the residents of Lagos State.”