Plans are underway to assemble 120 Nigerian researchers, startups and stakeholders in the artificial intelligence (AI) space to develop a robust framework for AI adoption in the country.
  
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr, Bosun Tijani, who made the disclosure, said the experts would come up with the policy at the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Workshop to be held from April 15 to 18 in Abuja.
   
He said the resulting strategy from the session would help the government to deliver the priorities and implementation approach towards improving lives and growing the nation’s economy through the application of AI.
   
Describing the move as a significant step in the country’s AI journey, the minister highlighted his AI efforts since assuming office last year:  
Tijani said: “One of the earliest initiatives from the start of my term in office was to properly define and outline a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence strategy for Nigeria. 
  
“The need to coordinate and harness the power of AI for national development is a critical element in our journey toward the use of technology to accelerate productivity in our country.  
 
“AI offers us the opportunity to leverage technology to solve some of our most complex and urgent challenges in education, agriculture, healthcare and so much more.
   
“Recognising the incredible depth of talent of Nigerian descent scattered all over the world working in the field of AI, we quickly looked to identify some of these leading researchers and started to engage them in a number of our initiatives. 
  
“From the National Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) to the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Application (4IRTA) project, we have worked with these talented academics and entrepreneurs towards the mainstreaming of the application of AI in our everyday lives.”