The recent announcement of a ₦100 million AI Fund by Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has drawn sharp criticism from the Nigerian tech community. The fund, supported by Google, has been met with scepticism, primarily due to the perceived inadequacy of the amount allocated for AI development in the country.
Critics argue that the ₦100 million, which roughly equates to $60,000, is insufficient to drive significant progress in artificial intelligence across Nigeria. They highlight the disparity between this initiative and other Google-backed programs where individual startups receive up to $350,000 in funding, questioning how such a modest sum can be distributed effectively among multiple startups.
Many within the tech space believe that more substantial investments are necessary to truly boost Nigeria’s AI landscape, especially considering the potential of the country’s growing technology sector. The concern is that the current allocation will fall short of fostering meaningful innovation or positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI on the global stage.
Apples Bite Magazine will continue to follow developments around this initiative as the conversation around Nigeria’s AI future unfolds.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.