Nigeria to train 1,000 youths on AI, blockchain every year

The Nigerian government has launched an annual training program for 1,000 citizens in AI and blockchain to position Nigeria ahead of global economies and foster innovation.

Nigeria has announced a government-led initiative to train 1,000 Nigerians annually on various cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence and blockchain, as it prepares “to overtake other world economies.”

On July 23, Kashim Shettima, the vice president of Nigeria, inaugurated the AI Expertise Blockchain and Technology Training and Outsourcing Initiative in the city of Jigawa as part of Nigeria’s strategy for digital transformation and leadership in Africa. While doing so, he said:

“We are not merely catching up with the rest of the world; we are poised to overtake them. This initiative offers its beneficiaries the chance to become part of a global workforce, driving innovation that will shape our future.”

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The Nigerian government partnered with a tech company, Gluwa, to train 1,000 Nigerians annually in AI, blockchain and other technologies.

The country’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, announced a financial grant of 150,000 Nigerian nairas ($90) to micro, small and medium enterprises to further incentivize the development of a home-grown fintech ecosystem.

Prepping for world dominance

The new initiative to train 1,000 Nigerians every year is one of the many efforts Nigeria has undertaken in recent years to expedite development. Shettima added:

“We are adopting this initiative across the nation to create a network of tech hubs that will power Nigeria’s economic growth for decades to come.”

Earlier in July, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Nigeria unveiled plans to establish research centers focused on emerging technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things and blockchain across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

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NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, emphasized the agency’s commitment to developing a strong technology research ecosystem.

The planned research centers will target critical areas, including IoT, blockchain technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, additive manufacturing, AI and robotics. Inuwa said:

“We are establishing a special-purpose vehicle that will look into these key areas and also establish research centers across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria that will be targeting these six key areas of emerging technologies.”

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