The two-day Artificial intelligence Action Summit opened in Paris on 10 February, 2025.
Among world leaders at the summit was Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu. He met the Chief Executive Officer of Google, Sundar Pichai, on 12 February, 2025, on promoting AI and digital technology in Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s post:
I enjoyed engaging in crucial discussions about advancing Nigeria’s role in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation with you in Paris, Sundar @sundarpichai.
We are also exploring partnership opportunities with Google, which will focus on five key areas: enhancing scalable cloud infrastructure, equipping our workforce with essential skills for the future, promoting AI innovation and research, driving cloud adoption, and elevating Nigeria’s standing in the global tech landscape as a hub for innovation and AI transition.
It is worth noting that Nigeria already has some bright prospects in the AI space, including the likes of Awarri Technologies @awarritech, with whom the Federal Government is currently collaborating to build critical AI software infrastructure to meet the needs of the local market unique to our arts and culture, languages, and society, amongst others, which have mostly been put on the backburner by current existing models. This includes data capture platforms and an LLM for Nigerian languages in partnership with our National Centre for AI and Robitics @NCAIRNigeria.
This partnership conversation with Google aligns seamlessly with our Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises economic diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, and innovation. This will empower businesses, create new opportunities, and establish Nigeria as a significant player in the global digital economy.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy @FMCIDENigeria will provide strategic oversight, while NITDA @NITDANigeria will spearhead the implementation.
Nigeria is poised to take the lead in AI and technology—this is merely the start of an exciting journey!
Both men say the meeting was fruitful.
Sundar Pichai posted:
It was great meeting with President Tinubu @officialABAT. We talked about the immense potential of AI in Nigeria, and how we can partner to expand AI skills, enable innovation, and support Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem.
photo credit: Tinubu
