The Federal Government has announced a strategic partnership with Google aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global technology hub.
Inuwa Kashifu, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), revealed this during a televised interview monitored in Lagos. He stated that the collaboration focuses on five key areas: infrastructure development, workforce upskilling, AI innovation, cloud adoption, and an investment framework.
According to Kashifu, the initiative, launched following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Paris, will establish a roadmap for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He also highlighted the critical role of data centres in the digital economy and the need to store sensitive government and private sector data within the country. Kashifu noted that no data centre globally depends solely on grid electricity, stressing the importance of adopting off-grid and green energy solutions as part of the framework.
Furthermore, he emphasised the need to integrate digital skills into Nigeria’s education system, from primary schools to higher institutions, to prepare the workforce for emerging opportunities.
Addressing speculations about Awari Technologies, Kashifu clarified that the company is not part of the Google partnership but operates under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) focused on developing a large language model to promote Nigerian languages and culture.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that President Tinubu’s meeting with Pichai in Paris aimed to solidify strategic initiatives that will accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Credit: NAN (Text Excluding Headline)
