The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the Federation through the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, is addressing unemployment through the Federal AI Academy Capacity Development Initiative, which aims to train millions of Nigerians in artificial intelligence.
The announcement was made in a statement by Dr. Felix Ehr, director of media and corporate communications at the National Space Agency.
According to the statement, Secretary-General Uche-Nnaji held high-level bilateral talks to foster partnership with KC Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
The Commonwealth is a union of 56 countries working towards common goals of prosperity, democracy and peace. The Commonwealth Secretariat is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates and carries out many of the Commonwealth’s activities, supported by a network of more than 80 organizations.
The Commonwealth AI Academy is a flagship project of the Intel-backed Commonwealth Artificial Intelligence Consortium, focused on delivering specialized AI courses tailored to a variety of disciplines.
Nnaji said, “This partnership with the Commonwealth and Intel will provide millions of Nigerians with industry-ready, practical AI knowledge and position Nigeria as a leader in AI adoption and innovation across Africa. We will be able to establish our position as
He noted that the initiative comes at a critical time as Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose from 5.0% in the third quarter of 2023 to 5.3% in the first quarter of 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The NBS report further shows that the unemployment rate among youth aged 15 to 24 has reached 8.4%, highlighting the urgent need for effective skills development programs.
According to Nnaji, the AI Academy aims to enhance the use of AI in governance, agriculture and healthcare.
He added that this initiative supports the Commonwealth’s broader goals of building a safe, inclusive and fair digital space for its citizens.
Nnaji stressed that the AI Academy intends to address various development challenges, including climate change and public health, by providing accessible training to marginalized communities.
Scotland commended Nigeria’s leadership in the Commonwealth and reiterated the importance of AI in promoting sustainable development.
“The Commonwealth AI Academy will not only develop a new generation of AI professionals, but also ensure that knowledge and resources are leveraged to tackle pressing global challenges, benefiting the whole Commonwealth,” she said. said.
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The Secretary-General also emphasized that this collaboration will lay the foundations for AI awareness and literacy across Commonwealth countries, enabling better use of technology for socio-economic progress.
Mr. Nnaji reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable practices under the Federal Living Land Charter.
He noted that “agricultural reforms underway in Nigeria are integrating advanced technologies such as enhanced rock weathering and biochar to improve soil health and increase crop yields”, adding that these said its efforts are in line with Nigeria’s nationally defined contribution under the Paris Agreement.
He hinted that the discussion also highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in the upcoming COP29 conference, where the country aims to showcase innovative and technology-driven solutions to the climate change challenge.
According to the statement, the two leaders expressed their determination to work together to promote sustainable technologies across the Commonwealth countries.
The Minister asserted that as Nigeria embraces this partnership with the federation, it stands to transform its workforce by aligning its education efforts with the growing demand for technical expertise.
With 14.4 per cent of youth currently not in education, employment or training, the Minister said this initiative offers an important opportunity to steer young Nigerians into productive paths, thereby building economic resilience. He emphasized that it will contribute to growth.
Mr. Nnaji reiterated the ministry’s commitment to Nigeria’s sustainable development.
“The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology remains committed to promoting Nigeria’s sustainable development through the strategic application of science and technology and positioning Nigeria as a leader in the global technology sector,” he added.
“Through partnerships with international organizations and the private sector, the Ministry is focused on building the capacity of Nigerians in emerging technologies such as AI, renewable energy and biotechnology. Its mission is to ensure inclusive growth and It is about promoting a technology-driven economy that increases environmental sustainability and creates employment opportunities for all Nigerians,” he said.
