Nigeria has emerged as “West Africa’s data hub,” positioning the country as a strategic player for neighbouring countries and global technology companies seeking opportunities within the region
By Mmesoma Onwuka
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation, strengthening the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem and deepening digital cooperation across Africa.
Tijani made the remarks during a series of engagements over the past week, which included his participation in the Deep Learning Indaba, the Nigeria AI Trust Stakeholder Workshop in Abuja, discussions with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a visit to the Republic of Benin.
The engagements are part of efforts to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy through digital innovation, technology and strategic partnerships.
Speaking at the Deep Learning Indaba, a pan-African community and annual gathering dedicated to artificial intelligence and machine learning, Tijani stressed the need for Africa to build greater capacity to harness AI for development.
He said Africa must strengthen its ability to deploy AI in critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and education to ensure that the benefits of emerging technologies translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
In Abuja, the minister also participated in the Nigeria AI Trust Stakeholder Workshop held at the United Nations House, where policymakers, researchers, innovators and other technology ecosystem stakeholders discussed strategies for building a sustainable and trusted AI ecosystem in Nigeria.
The workshop was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), MacArthur Foundation and Co-creation HUB (CcHUB).
Tijani also delivered keynote remarks at the second seminar on Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy (ACDD 2.0), where he highlighted Nigeria’s increasing influence in Africa’s digital economy.
According to him, Nigeria has emerged as “West Africa’s data hub,” positioning the country as a strategic player for neighbouring countries and global technology companies seeking opportunities within the region.
The minister further participated in a fireside chat with former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during an engagement involving the Gates Foundation Africa and India Offices (AIO) Division.
His visit to the Republic of Benin also focused on exploring opportunities for stronger bilateral cooperation in the digital economy and promoting greater regional collaboration.
The engagements underscore the Federal Government’s broader strategy of using digital technology and responsible AI development to drive economic growth, strengthen regional partnerships and position Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa.