In a significant stride toward advancing technological progress across Africa, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has joined forces with Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to establish the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scaling Hub.
This partnership, made official through a signed agreement, includes a commitment from the Gates Foundation to provide up to $7.5 million in both funding and technical support.
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The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the State House on Wednesday.
Present at the high-level meeting were Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Gates Foundation, Minister Tijani, and senior officials of the Foundation, including Paulin Basinga, Uche Amaonwu, and Bunmi Okunowo.
According to the statement, this engagement builds upon earlier discussions between Dr. Tijani, Mr. Gates, and a cohort of African innovators, where the transformative potential of artificial intelligence was a central theme.
Deliberations focused on two core components critical to Nigeria’s digital advancement: strengthening connectivity infrastructure and accelerating AI development.
The AI Scaling Hub aims to catalyse the deployment of artificial intelligence solutions in key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education—sectors with the potential to directly improve the lives of Nigerians.
Dr. Tijani reflected on the moment’s significance, both personally and for the country. “This is a significant milestone for us,” he stated.
“We are not just adopting technology; we are shaping it to serve our people, address real challenges, and unlock Nigeria’s full potential under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The Gates Foundation’s investment signals growing international confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to lead in tech innovation.
It also reinforces the Tinubu-Shettima administration’s broader strategy to build a robust, inclusive, and locally driven digital economy.
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