‘We’re Pooling Resources’ – Bosun Tijani Announces $1.5 Million AI Fund After Criticism of Earlier Initiative

The federal government is set to unveil a $1.5 million initiative aimed at supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI) development in the country. 

This announcement comes from the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who disclosed the upcoming AI Fund initiative during an interview on Arise TV.

The new AI support, backed by global foundation Luminate, will be officially launched on October 7 in Abuja.

This follows the recent N100 million AI fund launched by the Ministry in partnership with Google. While the earlier fund was criticised as insufficient, Dr Bosun Tijani clarified that this new funding reiterates the government’s will and focus on pooling resources for AI growth in Nigeria.

Addressing issues about the perceived inadequacy of the previous AI fund, Dr Bosun Tijani explained that many Nigerians misunderstood the scope of the initiative.

He stated that the government is focusing on gathering resources from multiple avenues, emphasising that the AI sector’s development is not reliant solely on domestic funding. 

The Minister revealed that, in addition to Luminate’s contribution, the government is setting up the National Artificial Intelligence Trust. This body, developed in collaboration with AI Collaborative, will ensure that AI innovations are ethical and sustainable, particularly as the nation works on developing AI applications in local languages.

Dr Tijani also discussed the government’s long-term vision for technology infrastructure, acknowledging that while the benefits may not be immediately visible, projects such as the ongoing fibre optic cable installation, which will cover 90,000 kilometres across the country, are crucial for future development. 

The Minister admitted that securing the $2 billion required for this project will take up to 18 months, with the full installation expected to be completed over the next few years. However, he stressed the importance of such foundational projects, saying that their eventual impact will address national challenges, including poverty.

In addition to these large-scale initiatives, Dr Tijani highlighted the government’s 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, which is already providing job opportunities for Nigerians, particularly in the technology sector. He also mentioned the 774 Project, designed to enhance service delivery at the local government level by connecting secretariats nationwide.

At a National AI workshop earlier this year, Dr Tijani had introduced the AI Collective, a collaborative platform aiming to drive the country’s AI ecosystem.

This effort is supported by the $1.5 million pledge from Luminate, spread over three years, which will fund key organisations such as Data Science Nigeria, Lagos Business School, and the Centre for Journalism, Innovation, and Development. These institutions will collaborate on governance, research, and innovation within the AI space.

The AI Collective operates within the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), providing a space for Nigeria’s academic, civil society, and technological communities to work together in ensuring that AI becomes a central component of the nation’s economic growth.