Speaking at the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Tijani said the Federal Government is investing in infrastructure and talent to ensure AI drives transformation across key sectors such as agriculture, mining and education. He linked the government’s plan to create three million technical jobs to the development of AI skills and solutions tailored to local challenges.

The minister highlighted Nigeria’s launch of Africa’s first government-backed land mapping model, unveiled at the United Nations General Assembly, to help developers train AI systems for national use. He also emphasised that broadband expansion is central to digital growth, revealing a $2bn fibre-optic rollout in which government will fund 49 per cent and the private sector 51 per cent.

Tijani warned that without decisive investment in connectivity, Nigeria risks falling behind nations like Brazil and China that have leveraged digital infrastructure to drive productivity. He said reforms in the digital economy are already yielding results and announced a N21bn research fund to support universities and innovators in areas such as digital literacy, cybersecurity and online safety.

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IHS Nigeria CEO Mohamad Darwish, also on the panel, said inclusive prosperity by 2030 depends on making digital technology a central growth driver. He described digital infrastructure as the backbone of national productivity and urged stronger public-private partnerships to expand broadband coverage, boost innovation and close the digital divide.

Darwish said IHS, which operates over 16,000 towers and 15,000km of fibre across Nigeria, remains committed to powering connectivity, supporting innovation hubs and promoting youth digital skills.

Source: Punch