Manny Ita
The Federal Government of Nigeria officially launched the nation’s first National Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (NAICE) at the University of Jos on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Unveiled by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during the university’s 50th convocation ceremony, the facility is designed to transition Nigeria from a passive consumer of technology to an active contributor in the global AI ecosystem. The Minister emphasized the strategic importance of the center, stating, “The centre will support our efforts in strengthening research, skills, and innovation, and positioning Nigeria as a serious contributor to the global AI ecosystem.” He further noted that the initiative reflects a determination for Nigeria to no longer be a “rule taker” in emerging global AI governance frameworks.
A primary objective of the center is to lead research into inclusive, locally relevant datasets to ensure that AI systems accurately reflect Nigeria’s social realities, languages, and diverse cultures. Dr. Tijani remarked that “artificial intelligence systems must understand Nigeria’s reality, our languages, our culture, and our social structures, and universities must lead the research into inclusive datasets and contextual intelligence.” By hosting the center at the University of Jos, the government aims to empower academic institutions to act as engines of innovation and thought leadership for the Global South. The facility will serve as a national hub for advanced AI research, skills development, policy engagement, and collaboration between researchers, students, and policymakers.
The launch of the NAICE is a key component of Nigeria’s broader National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which is built upon five pillars: building foundational infrastructure, sustaining a world-class ecosystem, accelerating sector-wide adoption, ensuring responsible use, and developing a robust governance framework. This strategy projects that AI could contribute significantly to the national economy by 2026 through improvements in agriculture, healthcare, and education. While specific funding details for the center were not disclosed at the ceremony, the initiative complements existing programs such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) project. Dr. Tijani concluded that given Nigeria’s population and economic ambitions, the country “must actively take part in developing artificial intelligence” to ensure the technology supports national productivity and social development
