The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasised the substantial economic advantages Nigeria may experience by implementing artificial intelligence (AI). She underlined that AI may boost Productivity in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa by $136 billion while speaking at the 10th Convocation of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja. In 2022, Nigeria is projected to account for 43% of this sum, or 13% of the four nations’ combined GDP.
Nigerian adoption of AI may be hampered by issues like inconsistent Electricity and frequent power outages, despite this promise. In order to teach and upskill young people, the Nigerian government launched a national AI plan and partnered with international tech giants like Google, which Dr. Okonjo-Iweala commended. Additionally, she referenced a PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis that projected Artificial Intelligence (AI) would boost the world Economy by $15.7 trillion by 2030, with major advantages for developing countries like Nigeria. The UBA Group Managing Director, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, received an Honorary Doctorate from the AUST Governing Board during the convocation in recognition of his contributions to business and economic development.
Governments can fund renewable energy projects.
Adoption of AI is severely hampered in many African nations, especially Nigeria, by unstable electricity and spotty internet connection. To solve these issues, governments can fund Renewable Energy projects like wind farms and solar mini-grids, which will give both urban and rural communities a steady supply of electricity. For instance, more than 60% of Rwanda’s population is now connected to the grid thanks to investments in solar energy, which has significantly increased access to electricity. Enhancing connectivity can also be achieved by investing in satellite internet and growing fiber-optic networks, as demonstrated by Ghana’s collaboration with businesses like SpaceX’s Starlink. In order to ensure that Infrastructure development keeps pace with technology breakthroughs, public-private partnerships can be extremely important in these endeavours.
Nations such as China and Estonia offer important insights about the adoption of AI. China’s strong AI ecosystem has accelerated developments in fields like facial recognition and smart cities, aided by government initiatives like the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan. The tiny but technologically advanced country of Estonia has incorporated AI into its governmental services, facilitating effective e-governance and cutting down on red tape. Both nations stress how crucial it is to make calculated investments in infrastructure, research, and Education in order to create a long-lasting AI ecosystem. Nigeria can follow these examples by adjusting its tactics to fit its particular social and economic circumstances.
Developing local talent through collaborations with int’l tech companies.
Legislators and IT executives in Nigeria have voiced hope for AI’s future. Dr. Isa Pantami, the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, for instance, has pushed for the use of AI in education and public services. Similar to this, local IT entrepreneurs like Co-Creation Hub CEO Bosun Tijani stress the importance of developing local talent through collaborations with international tech companies and coding boot camps. These opinions show that there is general agreement that Nigeria must develop a cooperative environment in order to deploy AI.
In order to completely utilise AI, Nigeria should concentrate on a few important areas. A steady Power Supply may be guaranteed by expanding wind and Solar Energy installations. To close energy gaps and boost AI infrastructure, for example, Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Master Plan might be revived. The next generation can be better prepared for the Digital Economy by integrating AI and coding into school curricula. It may be possible to add advanced AI training to programs like Google Digital Skills for Africa, which has trained more than 6 million Africans. Giving tech businesses funding and Tax incentives can encourage innovation.
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Additionally, AI adoption may be accelerated by partnerships between government agencies and tech companies. Nigeria might get comparable advantages from a collaboration with businesses like Microsoft, which has funded AI training in Kenya. By supporting AI-focused research institutes, Nigeria might establish itself as a regional Innovation centre. These centres could work with international institutions to create state-of-the-art technologies that are suited to regional requirements. Nigeria can build a strong ecosystem that uses AI to promote social progress, economic expansion, and international competitiveness by tackling these issues.