Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has emphasised the importance of Artificial Intelligence (Al) in transforming productivity and driving national prosperity.
Delivering a keynote address at the inaugural virtual public lecture series organised by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Lagos Business School (LBS), Bosun stated that one of the reasons the government is bullish about AI is its potential to increase our productivity, thereby raising the nation’s GDP.
Organised under the aegis of the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme (NAIRS), the lecture titled ‘Using AI for the Early Detection and Management of Tuta Absoluta-Induced Tomato Diseases’ showcased the groundbreaking solution developed by the Tomato Ebola research consortium, comprising Dr. Aniebietabasi Ackley, Team Leader (New Zealand); Dr. Harisu Abdullahi, Principal Investigator (New Zealand); Mark Marvellous, Technical Investigator (UK/Canada); and Ofem Eteng, Industry Advisor (Nigeria).
The minister noted that AI and digital technology can help develop the agricultural sector, and we hope this will serve as an inspiration to many other researchers across the country.
He said, “With this public lecture series, I do hope that Nigeria will begin to show the world that we are not just paying lip service to Al but we’re truly building it to improve the lot of our people to achieve shared prosperity.
“In many ways, building a strong AI ecosystem has been a driver for the initiatives we deploy in the ministry. What we are witnessing today is the beginning of a series of public lectures that are based around research projects that can be extended into the development of startups and AI applications to solve problems that are common to us in our nation. This will offer us an opportunity to demonstrate strong leadership across the continent and beyond.”
Bosun praised the efforts of the researchers, highlighting that their pioneering work in applying AI to agriculture is a vital step towards tackling food insecurity while fostering innovation-driven enterprises.
He added that initiatives like NAIRS show how Nigerian research can make an impact not only within the country but also across Africa and the global community.
The Tomato Ebola research team is one of 45 recipients of Nigeria’s first AI Research Grant, provided by the Federal Government to address major challenges in the agricultural sector using Artificial Intelligence.
The NAIRS lecture series is designed to spotlight homegrown research projects with the potential to be developed into startups and scalable AI applications that address national priorities. By bringing together researchers, policymakers, and innovators, the series highlights Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging digital technologies for economic growth, food security, and enhanced global competitiveness.
The inaugural lecture sets the tone for a continuous series under NAIRS, which will feature Nigerian AI researchers presenting transformative projects across sectors such as healthcare, security, climate change, and education. Through this platform, the Ministry reinforces its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a hub for AI-driven solutions. and a leader in shaping the future of technology for inclusive development.
