Nigeria is doubling down on research, AI, and digital innovation.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCOE, has made it clear that collaboration is key to solving national challenges.
During a recent meeting with Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), led by Vice Chancellor Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, Inuwa emphasized the power of bringing together researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs to tackle issues like public health, infrastructure, and sustainability.
*Why This Matters*
This partnership aligns with NITDA’s mission to create a strong tech research ecosystem, focusing on:
• Digital Literacy
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Research & Development (R&D)
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It also supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes digital transformation and prepares students for the future job market.
*AI Is Changing the Game*
Inuwa highlighted how AI is more than just automation, it is revolutionizing industries.
He stated, “Imagine developing a bot that can provide quality health services to our remote areas.
“One of the challenges we are facing in our healthcare system is the lack of professionals. It’s difficult to get specialist doctors everywhere, but AI can help fill this gap.”
A recent study in Nigeria even tested AI-powered chatbots, like ChatGPT, against human doctors for medical prescriptions.
The result is, AI matched and sometimes outperformed human doctors.
“This underscores the potential of AI in telemedicine,” he added. “Beyond healthcare, AI can drive innovations in agriculture, education, and other critical sectors.”
*Building the Future Together*
To make this vision a reality, NITDA and NSUK are developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive impactful initiatives.
Vice Chancellor Liman expressed gratitude for NITDA’s support, saying:
“NSUK has been recognised as a pioneer participant in NITDA’s digital transformation program, a model that the National Universities Commission (NUC) is now working to extend to other universities across Nigeria.”
As part of this commitment, NSUK has launched a Digital Literacy Center to equip students with globally competitive tech skills.
*What’s Next?*
Nigeria is taking AI, research, and digital transformation seriously.
This partnership is just the beginning of building a tech-driven, future-ready economy.
Are we ready for the digital revolution? It is happening now.
