‎FG, Gates Foundation Seal $7.5m Deal to Launch National AI Scaling Hub

‎Nigeria has signed a landmark agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scaling Hub, backed by up to $7.5 million in funding and technical support.

‎The initiative which took place in Abuja on Wednesday aims to fast-track the integration of AI into critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education, key pillars of the country’s development agenda.

‎Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, hailed the partnership as a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. He emphasized the need to harness cutting-edge technology to tackle real-world challenges and unlock national potential under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

‎“This partnership reflects our commitment to not just adopt emerging technologies, but to shape them in ways that address the needs of our people,” Tijani said.

‎The agreement was formalized during a high-level visit by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and senior officials of the Gates Foundation to Abuja. It builds on previous discussions around digital innovation and marks a growing international confidence in Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s AI landscape.