The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled a strategic initiative to bolster Nigeria’s technological landscape. Announced by NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, at the IoT West Africa Conference in Lagos, the plan emphasizes the establishment of research centers dedicated to pioneering technologies.

Inuwa outlined that these research hubs will concentrate on pivotal advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), additive manufacturing, and robotics, in addition to blockchain technology.

These centers are slated for deployment across the “six geo-political zones of Nigeria,” fostering nationwide technological integration.

Beyond the creation of these research units, the government is committed to supporting Nigerian startups in scaling their innovations using these cutting-edge technologies. Innovation sandboxes will be utilized to develop practical use cases, facilitating the market introduction of these technological products.

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In alignment with this initiative, the NITDA has been proactively upskilling the nation’s workforce through its 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program. By 2027, the government aims to equip three million Nigerians with essential skills, thereby augmenting its current technological advancements.

Inuwa anticipates that this initiative will significantly enhance foreign exchange remittances as trained individuals venture abroad, contributing to the global tech ecosystem.

Shitij Taneja, Managing Director of Vertex Next, the organizers of the IoT West Africa conference, lauded Nigeria as “Africa’s next Silicon Valley.” He emphasized that Nigeria’s youthful demographic and dynamic startup ecosystem position it as a formidable force in technology development.

“The rationale behind hosting IoT West Africa, co-located with the Africa Data Center and Cloud Expo Africa, is to capitalize on the burgeoning market potential and the increasing number of youth driving technological progress,” Taneja remarked. He further highlighted that the conference aims to attract investors to Nigerian startups.

Nigeria’s intensified focus on emerging technologies has been increasingly evident. In May, NITDA restructured the National Blockchain Policy Steering Committee (NBPSC) to enhance the implementation of its National Blockchain Policy.

Furthermore, the nation is exploring potential collaborations with the United States to delve into AI and other emergent technologies. This pursuit persists despite recent legal frictions with the U.S., involving the detention of a Binance executive.

According to the Blockchain Industry Coordinating Committee of Nigeria (BICCoN), a blockchain advocacy group, such developments could potentially strain Nigeria’s relations with global partners. However, the overarching goal remains to solidify Nigeria’s position in the global tech arena.