Physical Address
60 Ekwema Cres, Layout 460281, Imo
FG Calls on Young Innovators to Harness AI in Tackling Nigeria’s Key Challenges
The Federal Government is calling on young innovators to harness AI in a big way to tackle Nigeria’s toughest problems. It’s a clear message from the top: young Nigerians with tech skills should step up and use artificial intelligence to make real changes in our society and economy.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, shared this during a chat with journalists right after giving a special lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. The talk was part of the Distinguished Personality Lecture Series, focused on “ICT and Employment Generation: Strategies for Economic Growth.” FG calls on young innovators to harness AI, he said, pushing everyone to shift how we see things, from always talking about our struggles to spotting the huge chances to create and build.
He really drove home the point that Nigerians need to get how AI works and put it to use for the country’s growth. Young innovators to harness AI in tackling Nigeria’s key challenges, that’s the call, joining others who are already creating tech solutions for our everyday issues.
Read Next: NRS Clarifies: 7.5% VAT Applies Solely to Bank Transfer Service Fees, Not Full Amounts
“To young innovators: we live at a time that is totally different,” Tijani told them. “Of course, there is so much more that we all desire for our society. We should switch our framing from a society that is filled with challenges to one that is filled with opportunities to build, because the future we require in Nigeria will require many people building new things.”
He’s speaking from experience, too, not just as a minister. “I worked with someone from this university to build the first known innovation hub in Nigeria,” he explained. “Today, it is known across Africa. We supported many people to build solutions to problems in Nigeria, and that is what every young Nigerian should be doing.”
Tijani made it clear that AI isn’t some magic that takes over our brains. It’s a tool to speed up economic growth by boosting what we can do as humans. Harness AI in tackling Nigeria’s key challenges means using it smartly, not letting it do everything.
“Artificial Intelligence is not about replacing critical thinking; it is about helping humans sieve through the multiple streams of information you have to deal with,” he said. “The ability to use AI productively will still require you to apply your creative confidence. If you don’t have the ability to apply the knowledge or insight that AI gives you, it will not do the work for you.”
For a place like Nigeria, where boosting productivity is a top priority, this makes perfect sense. “AI is there to help us accelerate the growth of how we apply knowledge much faster,” the minister added.
Looking ahead, the Federal Government plans to keep teaming up with places like OAU, which put a lot into research, fresh ideas, and innovation. This fits right into President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“Technology gives you the ability to do what you have always been doing in better ways, and that would not be possible without new thinking, ideas, and technology,” Tijani noted.
He praised institutions like OAU for more than just teaching, they’re about creating new science and showing people how to use it. “If we want to improve agriculture, for example, we need people who understand how to use new technology.”
Tijani was impressed by all the ideas buzzing at the university. “I think we are fortunate to hear the number of ideas being generated at this university. It shows that this is an institution not just about training, but also about researching and generating new ideas. That is why we are here to partner with the university, with a view to helping us achieve the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”
Read Next: MTN Nigeria Tops Airtel and Glo as Nigeria’s Leading Mobile Internet Provider in 2025
Before the minister spoke, OAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, welcomed him and highlighted what his visit means. It shows the ministry’s real push to work closer with universities to build a nation powered by digital skills, knowledge, and innovation.
Bamire gave special thanks for the minister’s role in approving the OAU Centre of Excellence in Telecommunications back in July 2023, through the Nigerian Communications Commission. “The approval for the establishment of this centre in 2023 was warmly received by our university community, as it aligns perfectly with our strategic vision to be a leading hub for innovation, research and development in Information and Communication Technology in Nigeria and Africa at large,” he said.
This kind of push from the FG feels timely. With so many challenges in Nigeria, from jobs to farming to daily life, it’s exciting to think about young people leading the way with tools like AI. The partnerships with schools like OAU could spark even more homegrown fixes that stick.
Was this information useful? Drop a nice comment below. You can also check out other useful contents by following us on X/Twitter @siliconafritech, Instagram @Siliconafricatech, or Facebook @SiliconAfrica.
