Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has stated that the country needs to create a national AI policy to use AI for sustainable development.
A report titled “Co-creating a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Nigeria,” which he posted on his X account on Monday, revealed that Al has evolved into a multipurpose technology that is changing production and service delivery and has the potential to have a significant impact on economic growth and social progress.
The ministry stated that the strategic deployment of Al may boost Africa’s GDP by $234 billion by 2030, citing the International Finance Corporation. It did point out that, in addition to the opportunities, Al governance also presents some difficult socio-technical problems.
It stated, “Concerns are growing surrounding ethics, bias, transparency, job automation, and privacy as algorithms are used in high-stakes fields including healthcare, banking, and security. Researchers and politicians agree that a human-centered approach is necessary to guarantee that all individuals, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, are treated fairly and accountable under the law.
The ministry also stated that a national Al strategy is now necessary for the nation to appropriately guide the Al revolution towards accomplishing national goals related to job creation, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
“With collaborative leadership, Nigeria seeks to pioneer inclusive, ethical innovation that raises the standard of living and widens opportunities for all its citizens,” it continued.
The ministry stated that it intended to build on the work already completed by the National Information Technology Development Agency to develop a national Al strategy and is expanding its co-creation approach to engage and include top Al researchers of Nigerian descent worldwide in the process of developing the national Al strategy.
