Nigeria Set to Lead Africa's AI Revolution, Says Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima declared Nigeria's readiness to lead Africa in the artificial intelligence revolution, asserting that the country aims to produce knowledge rather than consume imported technology. Speaking at the launch of the UNIPOD initiative in Lagos, Shettima highlighted the partnership between the federal government, state governments, and the United Nations Development Programme to create a digital hub for young innovators and students.

He emphasized the need for Nigeria to build a strong digital foundation capable of transforming ideas into measurable economic output. Shettima noted that the UNIPOD initiative reflects a deliberate shift in the role of universities, evolving from central instruction to enterprise-driven platforms.

He stressed the importance of ongoing macroeconomic structural reforms to support investment and expand production capacity, enabling innovation to scale. Shettima warned against passivity in the global AI race and urged stakeholders to develop systems that address local realities and challenges across various sectors, including agriculture, health, education, and finance.