Nigeria positioned to lead Africa in AI development – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria is strategically positioned to lead Africa in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive economic growth and innovation.

Shettima made this known on Monday in Lagos during the launch of the AI University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the University of Lagos, where he described AI as one of the most transformative technologies shaping the future of humanity.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Vice President said Nigeria cannot afford to remain passive in the rapidly evolving AI era.

He emphasised the need to build strong digital infrastructure that will enable innovators, government institutions and businesses to develop solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges.

According to him, AI holds significant potential across key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education and finance, but noted that the benefits would only be fully realised if the technology is deployed in an inclusive and responsible manner.

“Our investments in digital public infrastructure, our embrace of innovation ecosystems, and our commitment to responsible AI governance all point to one goal: making Nigeria not just a consumer of imported technologies, but a producer of knowledge, innovation and scalable solutions,” he said.

Shettima also noted that the establishment of UniPods reflects a shift in the role of universities from being centres of learning alone to becoming hubs for innovation, enterprise and national development. He explained that the initiative would encourage collaboration among students, researchers and industry experts to develop practical solutions to economic challenges.