FG to establish Emerging Technology Centres nationwide

By Uwa Suleiman

The Federal Government of Nigeria has started plans to establish Emerging Technology Centres across the Country.

This disclosure was made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami on Tuesday during his Keynote Address as the Special Guest of Honour at the Digital Africa Annual Conference.

Pantami who addressed the conference virtually stated that this year’s theme; Building A New Africa With AI And Blockchain could not have come at a better time considering the efforts of the government to boost emerging technologies in Nigeria.

“The seventh pillar of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) focuses exclusively on developing emerging technologies among the populace.  One of the ways of achieving this has been through the establishment of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and two virtual institutions currently building capacities in Artificial Intelligence, (AI) Blockchain technology, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Robotics and various other related fields.

“The development of a National Policy on Emerging Technologies, as part of NDEPS, which will further support the establishment of Emerging Technology Centres in Nigeria is underway.”

Dr Pantami, who commended the Chairman of Digital Africa Dr Evans Woherem for his consistency, commitment and support for a Digital Nigeria also noted that Emerging Technologies have the potential for world domination and Nigeria aims to take advantage of its vast potential to become a leading nation in Africa.