Tinubu, Google CEO, Discusses AI, Digital Transformation Partnership in Paris
By Epiphanus Obia
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has engaged in high-level discussions with Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Paris, focusing on Nigeria’s digital transformation and the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in driving economic growth. The meeting, which took place on Wednesday, 12th February 2025, explored avenues for collaboration aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa.
The discussions centered on key initiatives, including the expansion of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, workforce development through AI-driven education, and the promotion of research and innovation in emerging technologies. The partnership also aims to accelerate cloud adoption across industries and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the digital economy.
President Tinubu highlighted the importance of leveraging AI and digital technology to foster economic diversification, aligning with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that Nigeria is already making strides in AI development, citing collaborations with Awarri Technologies and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) to build software infrastructure tailored to local needs, including language models for Nigerian dialects.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who was present at the meeting, described the engagement as a significant step in advancing Nigeria’s technology ecosystem. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that AI and digital initiatives translate into tangible benefits for businesses and citizens.
Google has previously announced multiple initiatives to support AI skill development in Nigeria, including a N100 million AI fund for startups and an N2.8 billion grant to boost AI talent training through Data Science Nigeria. The company reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Nigerian government to create an enabling environment for digital innovation and economic progress.
With this latest engagement, Nigeria is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s AI revolution, leveraging global partnerships to drive technological advancement and economic development.
