Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, speaking on the Nigeria tech initiatives for 2024, has revealed that over the past year, the government has disbursed N200 million in grants to 55 researchers and innovators, aimed at facilitating technological advancement across key sectors.
These grants were awarded through two programmes: the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Application (4IRTA) initiative.
Both schemes are designed to empower innovators by providing the necessary financial support to develop solutions that can contribute to national growth.
The Ministry is currently focused on gathering results from the projects funded by these grants, with plans to scale up these innovations, ensuring they can be effectively applied across various industries, thereby boosting productivity and addressing critical challenges within the economy.
In addition to these AI-focused programmes, the federal government is rolling out several other initiatives aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure over the next 12 months.
One of the key Nigeria tech initiatives for 2024 is the expansion of the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme, which aims to build a skilled workforce in technology across Nigeria.
In its first phase, over 30,000 fellows were trained, and the programme is on track to train an additional 60,000 in the current cohort. The goal is to reach 270,000 trainees within the next 6 to 9 months, greatly boosting the pool of tech talent available to drive innovation and economic growth.
Another major effort is the Fibre Fund initiative, which is designed to enhance the nation’s digital infrastructure by deploying 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable across Nigeria.
This project, which is set to commence within the next year, will improve internet connectivity and support the digital transformation of businesses and services across the country.
Complementing these efforts is the Build-A-Thon programme, one of the commendable Nigeria tech initiatives for 2024, which introduces secondary school students to embedded systems and maker culture. Initially launched in three states, the programme has rapidly expanded to 14 states, benefiting over 5,000 students through hands-on workshops and holiday camps.
The Ministry plans to further broaden the programme’s reach, providing more students with valuable technological skills.
The Ministry is also advancing its efforts in artificial intelligence by working on a National AI Strategy, which is currently under review by various government agencies. Once adopted, this strategy will serve as the blueprint for AI development in Nigeria, guiding all related government initiatives.
Furthermore, the formation of the AI Collective is a collaboration to promote research, conduct hackathons, and organise seminars, all aimed at enabling an inclusive and innovative AI environment in the country.
In a related development, Nigeria has recently launched its own Large Language Model (LLM), a commendable achievement in the nation’s AI journey.
This model, being developed by a local startup, Awarri, in partnership with DataDotOrg and other key institutions, focuses on enhancing language representation in AI solutions by concentrating on five low-resource languages and accented English.
This initiative is expected to impact Nigeria’s growth in AI within Africa, further strengthening the country’s role in the global tech sector.
Again, the government is pushing forward with Project 774 LG Connectivity, aiming to achieve full internet coverage across all 774 local government secretariats within the next 12 to 18 months. Leveraging the capacities of NIGCOMSAT, Galaxy Backbone Limited, and NITDA, this initiative is important in bridging the digital divide in rural areas.
Additionally, the National Digital Economy Bill is undergoing nationwide consultations and is expected to promote trust in digital services and create a fair environment for innovation. This bill, once passed by the National Assembly, will play a key role in the continued growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Finally, the Ministry is establishing a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Centre, which will serve as a central hub for the coordination and implementation of DPI across Nigeria. This Centre is part of broader efforts to modernise government processes and improve service delivery through technology.
Alongside this, the National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria (NBAN) is working to achieve 70% broadband penetration by 2025, ensuring that at least 80% of the population has access to high-speed internet.
