President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Google CEO Sundar Pichai for the company’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence and digital transformation in Nigeria during a high-level meeting in Paris on Wednesday.
The meeting, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, focused on forging strategic partnerships to enhance Nigeria’s position in the global technology landscape through investments in AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure.
“Nigeria has an incredible opportunity to lead in AI and digital innovation in Africa,” Pichai said during the meeting. “Google is excited to continue working with the Nigerian government to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation and economic growth.”
The proposed collaboration encompasses several key initiatives, including the expansion of digital infrastructure, workforce development in digital skills, and promotion of AI-driven research. The partnership aims to accelerate cloud adoption across industries and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy.
Minister Tijani emphasized the partnership’s strategic importance, stating that it “represents an important opportunity to accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement and strengthen our digital economy.”
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy will oversee the initiative, with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) coordinating implementation efforts alongside private sector partners.
President Tinubu highlighted the alignment with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, expressing commitment to creating a business-friendly environment for tech investments. The initiative supports his government’s focus on economic diversification through industrialization, technology, and innovation.
Both parties will continue discussions to finalize the partnership details, with a focus on creating sustainable economic growth through digital transformation.
