Minister highlights AI’s role in boosting Nigeria’s productivity

Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has stated the importance of the proper application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria.

This, he said, was critical to open up opportunities for all sectors of the economy to be more productive, create more job and enhance agricultural outputs.

Tijani said this virtually on Friday in Lagos at the Lagos Business School Alumni Day event with the theme: “Navigating Disruptions: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Business and Economic Success”.

He stressed that the country must prioritise application of current and most advanced technology to lead growth across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

He noted that Nigeria consumed about 1.8 million metric tonnes of sugar and the country produced just three per cent of its consumption.

Tijani said the issues to address agriculture were technology and innovation related.

According to him, insights from AI could help cultivate hectares of land, help understand how to manage weather better, among other agricultural processes for better yields and outputs.

The Minister urged every Nigerian to be aware of the digital disruptions ongoing in the globe and begin to embrace and introduce technical efficiency and innovation to drive production.

He stated that government was committed to leveraging technology to increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and quality of life for people.

Tijani also called on the private sector to join government to put policies in place that encouraged use of cutting edge technology to see the value that disruptions and artificial intelligence provides.

“When people think of disruption, it is perceived as negative but disruption give room for opportunities and as leaders, when these disruptions happen, we must look out for the opportunities therein.

“As a ministry, we recognise the importance of AI driven solutions to support business decisions and we are building for medium to long term away from traditional way of solving those problems.

“Artificial Intelligence can provide insights in sectors like agriculture, public service delivery, health space, and generate data to help better appropriate and put the country’s resources to good use,” he said.

Mr Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, noted that in the era of artificial intelligence, Africa must play a leading role, not as a bystander, but as an active contributor.

He said the event’s theme was pertinent in these rapidly changing times, noting that as business leaders, change is inevitable and that change was an opportunity to reinvent especially in Africa.

He said business leaders must ensure that AI served not only the business group, but the broader group of the country and the continent.

“Our response to AI will be based on the values we hold and those values that have been shown to be the foundation of success that provide the capacity to thrive in times of enormous change.

“Value such as adaptability, excellence and commitment of life long learning have helped my business to achieve the phenomenal growth that we have achieved in the last 15 years.

“Let us be solution-oriented instead of being overwhelmed by what AI might replace and think of the many opportunities in this conference to create a roadmap that launches our businesses and, by extension, the economy of Nigeria forward,” he said.