Nigerian Communications Minister, Bosun Tijani, has invited top researchers, both Nigerians and foreigners with experience in the Nigerian market, to contribute to the development of a national AI strategy. The goal is to enhance the technological innovation landscape by incorporating insights from those who have interacted with the Nigerian market. The aim is to create a more efficient and impactful technological advancement environment.

The initiative involves curating a list of top researchers with Nigerian heritage from around the world to collaboratively create a National AI Strategy. This strategy aims to guide the responsible development of AI in Nigeria, focusing on job creation, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

AI adoption is seen as crucial for economic expansion, with the potential to boost the global economy by trillions of dollars. However, concerns about ethics, bias, privacy, and job displacement need to be addressed. Tijani emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach in AI strategy to ensure inclusiveness and benefits for everyone.

The Nigerian National AI Strategy seeks to achieve various goals, including agricultural transformation, healthcare advancements, financial inclusion, smart cities, education enhancement, environmental conservation, cybersecurity, government efficiency, and global competitiveness.

To identify top AI researchers, data from Lens is used, and machine learning models like Naive Bayes and Logistic Regression are employed to classify potential Nigerian researchers. A research index similar to the h-index is developed to systematically identify top researchers, and crowdsourcing is planned for refining the researcher list.

By involving renowned AI researchers, Nigeria aims to create a comprehensive AI strategy that aligns with national goals and fosters ethical and inclusive AI innovation. The collaboration aims to position Nigeria as a global player in AI research and development, benefiting citizens and fostering international collaborations.

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