The African Union Executive Council has approved the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, paving the way for the adoption of AI in the public and private sectors across member states, including Nigeria.
The strategy, published on the AU website on August 9, 2024, aimed to harness the transformative power of AI to drive economic, social, and geopolitical change in Africa.
It was adopted during the AU Executive Council’s 45th Ordinary Session in Accra, Ghana, on July 18–19, 2024, and endorsed by African ICT and Communications Ministers in June 2024.
The AU emphasised AI as a strategic asset for achieving Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals, promising to ignite new industries, fuel innovation, and create high-value jobs while preserving African culture and integration.
“AI is more than a technological leap; it is a transformative force reshaping our world. With far-reaching impacts across economics, society, and geopolitics, AI is driving revolutionary changes in healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education.
“For Africa, AI is a strategic asset pivotal to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals. It promises to ignite new industries, fuel innovation, and create high-value jobs while preserving and advancing African culture and integration,” the union stated.
Earlier in June, over 130 African ministers and experts virtually converged for the AU’s 2nd Extraordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT.
The Continental AI Strategy advocates for unified national approaches among AU member states to navigate AI-driven change, strengthening regional and global cooperation and positioning Africa as a leader in inclusive and responsible AI development.
Meanwhile, Nigeria, under the leadership of the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, is actively developing a comprehensive National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
The NAIS aims to position Nigeria as a leader in AI within Africa and harness its transformative potential for economic diversification, enhanced national security, and boosted productivity.
Africa’s most populous nation a few months ago assembled over 120 top AI researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders from within and outside the country to co-create the NAIS through a collaborative workshop.
Nigeria has launched its first multilingual Large Language Model.
The LLM was developed in collaboration with local firm, Awarri, global tech company DataDotOrg, and government agencies, following a four-day AI workshop involving over 120 experts.