Pantami commissions First National Centre for AI and Robotics in Nigeria

Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is growing exponentially as the minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami on Friday officially commissioned the National Centre for AI and Robotics (NCAIR) in Nigeria, constructed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Dr Pantami lauded the immense benefits derivable from the establishment of National Centre for AI and Robotics (NCAIR) in Nigeria, adding that it will serve as a leading hub of innovation, research and development, knowledge transfer, and training in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and other emerging technologies.

The minister disclosed that the Centre would engage youths and supports the diversification of the economy, create more jobs and inspire our digital entrepreneurs.

He pointed out that the ministry is committed to the digital economy drive of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, stressing that the drive gained more traction when the mandate of the Ministry was extended to include ‘digital economy’.

He stressed that the adoption of regulatory sandbox frameworks for testing technology in a controlled environment will enable the Center accelerate the progress the country is making in the development of digital economy.

The Centre, according to him, will also serve the following purposes of providing access to specialized technical skills for AI and Robotics, cultivate a network of influential supporters and champions across the country, support the spread of early success stories with prioritized use cases to build and appetite for more AI activity, Develop an AI ecosystem and create a vision for AI in the Country.

He announced that the Centre will house the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT-REAP) Office.

Pantami expressed his confidence that the Centre will engage Nigerian youths, support in the diversification of the economy, create more jobs and inspire our digital entrepreneurs.

Accordingly, he directed the DG of NITDA, to ensure that the centre is run in line with the general Policy of the Ministry which he said will be conveyed to the Centre through him.

The minister also directed the DG of NITDA to send him monthly report from the centre, from now until 31st of December, 2021.

He also commended the DG of NITDA and his team for making this Centre a reality and charged them to redouble their efforts and do more.

Earlier, Director-General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the Centre was built to foster the development of emerging technologies in preparing Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which he said is in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and strategy.

Abdullahi said “This project is one among many of our developmental programmes in accordance with our core mandate of facilitating the growth of Information Technology (IT) development in Nigeria.

“We are focused on providing support for viable innovations with socio-economic impact as well as a level playing field for all Nigerians to thrive in.

“As we enter the age of advanced technological breakthroughs such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nigeria cannot be left out in harnessing the advantages of AI, Robotics and other emerging technologies.

“AI has the potential to add to economic growth but the impact may be gradual and take sometimes to manifest according to McKinsey Global Institute”.

The DG of NITDA noted that AI if properly harnessed could add five to 15 percent to Nigeria’s GDP, which he said could be around 400B USD.

He revealed that through AI developed countries could add 20 to 25 percent net income to their GDP while developing countries like could add five to 15 percent.

Abdullahi highlighted that the centre is aimed at achieving unprecedented boost to Nigerian economy and called on all stakeholders in the ICT sector to join hands in the optimum use of the facility so as to bring about the projected gains of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the Nigerian technological space.