The United States of America (USA) and Nigeria are gearing up to engage in discussions on the digital economy, emerging technology, and the development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to explore avenues for partnership.
Mr. Arthur Brown, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, revealed this during the closing ceremony of a four-day Workshop on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in Abuja.
Brown announced that high-level U.S. government officials would convene in Abuja for a conference under the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission in less than two weeks.
He highlighted the agenda for the upcoming meeting, emphasizing the focus on fostering deeper partnerships and collaborating on programs and policies to drive robust, resilient, and inclusive economic growth.
Furthermore, Brown expressed the desire to strengthen linkages between the economies of both countries through an A.I. conference in Lagos. He emphasized the importance of aligning A.I. governance to ensure its safe, secure, transparent, and trustworthy deployment.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s support in adopting a landmark United Nations resolution on AI, Brown affirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to continued partnership with Nigeria on economic matters.
Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, stressed the need for African governments and leaders to back up their desires and approaches with decisive actions.
Tijani underscored the transformative potential of AI across various sectors, emphasizing its role in enhancing agriculture, public health, and education productivity.
The four-day Artificial Intelligence workshop, organized by the ministry in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), aimed to develop a co-created framework for A.I. adoption in the country.
