The Federal government, and a United States (US) firm, the DAIMLAS Corp have entered into a partnership in a bid to strengthen the technology and innovation sectors in Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Chief Uche Nnaji “This partnership is a big step forward in strengthening Nigeria’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) sector, which is a key part of our 2017–2030 STI Roadmap.
“Our collaboration with DAIMLAS Corp will use artificial intelligence (AI) to create a platform that brings together all STI resources and stakeholders in Nigeria.
“This platform will also connect us with Nigerians in the diaspora and other international technology ecosystems.
Here are the key benefits of this partnership: It will help every state in Nigeria align with our national STI goals.
“It will encourage innovation by providing a place for collaboration and research.
It will open doors for international partnerships, investments, and growth opportunities.
“The best part? This initiative comes at no cost to the Ministry, thanks to the innovative funding approach of DAIMLAS Corp. This shows the power of smart partnerships that prioritize progress”.
He commended DAIMLAS Corp for believing in Nigeria’s potential, “we can make science, innovation, and technology the driving forces of Nigeria’s growth and development” the Minister stated.
In his address, the Chief Executive Officer of DAIMLAS Corp, Joseph Wehbe expressed excitement over the collaboration.
“We are honored to partner with FMIST to build a platform that will serve as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s scientific and technological advancements. Together, we will create opportunities for growth, innovation, and global impact.”
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Olushola Odusanya said what is most important in the application of any technology is to get all the different stakeholders together and let them learn, understand and work together.
“Now there is a disruptive technology that is going across the world, and that is artificial intelligence. The most significant important part for us in Nigeria is to train more people in the use of these technologies because they are very, very constructive.
“Now, unlike what happened in biotechnology, biotechnology advocacy is ahead of science. We do not want a repeat of it, and that is why we want to start with bringing all the stakeholders together into an ecosystem where infrastructure is provided, where the faculty, and especially Nigerians in diaspora that are experts in artificial intelligence all can come together and have access to our young people who have different AI objectives”.
He explained that the youths want to use AI for different things, but they don’t know how to go about it. “So we now bring the diaspora professionals together.
“We provide the infrastructure, we provide the data, and then they begin to collect our own data, train them, use all the tools that are available across the world for us to now have AI to guide our decision making in many areas like agriculture, health, education, and industry”.
The platform is set to be launched publicly within eight weeks of the MOU signing, accompanied by outreach efforts to engage stakeholders nationwide. With its focus on alignment, innovation, and global engagement, this partnership is poised to redefine Nigeria’s approach to science, technology, and innovation.
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