FG seeks private sector partnership to launch AI fund in Nigeria 

The Federal Government of Nigeria is seeking the partnership of the private sector in its bid to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) fund that will increase the country’s capability in technology.  

The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during the opening session of the Zenith Bank Tech Fair 2023 in Lagos. Tijani said the country is lagging in AI because there has not been any significant investment in the technology in recent times.  

However, with the fund, he said the aim is to turn Nigeria into a global leader in AI over the next four years. He added that this can be achieved with the support of the private sector as the government alone cannot fund it.  

While appealing to private sector organizations in Nigeria to support the AI fund to achieve economic growth with technology, the Minister said: 

Meanwhile, in his opening address at the Tech Fair, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said the bank sees itself as a technology company with a banking licence. According to him, it is imperative for any company that wants to remain relevant in the future to embrace technology.  

The Zenith Bank Tech Fair, which is in its third edition this year, is a two-day event that brings together tech stakeholders across the country to chart a new course for tech development in Nigeria.

The event fully sponsored by Zenith Banks also provides an opportunity for several tech companies in to exhibit their products for free.