Tinubu Seeks AI Collaboration with Google to Cement Nigeria’s Digital Future
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President Bola Tinubu is exploring a strategic partnership with Google to accelerate Artificial Intelligence innovation and cloud adoption, positioning Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa.
Tinubu made the announcement on Wednesday via his verified X handle, detailing his recent meeting in France with Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer of Google and Alphabet.
Describing the engagement as a pivotal step in Nigeria’s AI and digital transformation journey, Tinubu remarked, “Nigeria is poised to take the lead in AI and technology—this is merely the start of an exciting journey!”
The proposed collaboration with Google will centre on five key areas: expanding scalable cloud infrastructure, equipping the workforce with future-ready digital skills, promoting AI innovation and research, driving cloud adoption, and positioning Nigeria as a global hub for AI advancements.
Highlighting Nigeria’s promising AI landscape, Tinubu cited Awarri Technologies as an example of homegrown innovation. The Federal Government, he noted, is working with the company to develop AI software infrastructure tailored to Nigeria’s unique needs.
This partnership, Tinubu emphasized, aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes economic diversification through industrialization, digitization, and technological innovation.
“This initiative will empower businesses, create new opportunities, and establish Nigeria as a significant player in the global digital economy,” he stated.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy will oversee the collaboration, with the National Information Technology Development Agency leading implementation efforts.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, hailed the discussions as “extremely productive,” underscoring the government’s commitment to developing AI skills and fostering innovation in Nigeria’s critical sectors.
Sundar Pichai echoed this optimism, stating, “It was a great meeting with President Tinubu. We talked about the immense potential of AI in Nigeria and how we can partner to expand AI skills, enable innovation, and support Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem.”
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