Nigeria includes more than 133 million people living in multiple poverty, however the country spends less than 0.2 % of GDP on research and development. While the world is advancing in artificial intelligence and Blockchain, Nigeria risks leaving behind it not because of the lack of talent, but because of investing in technologies that can solve its biggest challenges.
Nigeria faces a lot of organizational uncertainty and lack of national strategy; We do not have any clear strategy of artificial intelligence or Blockchain development policy, and the creation of the ban on encryption trade in 2021, climate of lack of confidence in Blockchain startups.
Most government agencies are slow to understand or even experimental emerging technologies; It often reacts defensive instead of empowering experimentation. There is also low realistic awareness and confidence as many Nigerians see Amnesty International and Blockchain “Western technology” without real local interest, and this leads to low digital confidence due to fraud and wrong information, especially about AI’s generated content.
According to the National Office for Technology and Promotion (Notap), 95 % of the technology used in sectors is imported, which reflects the minimum innovation or local production. The operation of AI systems requires graphics processing and cloud servers units, most of which are imported at a high cost. Even renewable energy solutions (such as solar artificial intelligence farms or Blockchain contract) face organizational barriers and import. Import duties, FX challenges, and poor logistical services make young people expensive to publish locally.
Over the past two years, I have directed junior developers and noticed a shift in their interest in artificial intelligence and Blockchain. But they are trying in isolation, with no culture or policy frameworks in the field of community research and development, which needs to be changed. Most of the talent of artificial intelligence with which it interacted locally is self -science and work in passion projects with the institutional support. There is hunger for construction, but no financing, no laboratories, and there is no reliable infrastructure for the experiment on a large scale.
To address the issue of organizational uncertainty, Nigeria must create a framework for national start -up technology policy that defines a clear and multi -sectors strategy, including priorities, guidelines, goals for AI and Blockchain and related fields. This approach is similar to the artificial intelligence strategies adopted by Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates. The federal government can also create regulatory sandy funds for emerging companies in the field of technology as it is allowed to test Blockchain or AI products under monitors such as CBN for Fintech, which reduces risks while encouraging innovation.
One of the practical solutions to the issue of decreased public awareness is to use experimental projects to build confidence. The government can fund Blockchain in the public sector or artificial intelligence pilots in high -influential areas such as food supply chains, electricity control, or verify education record, to show interest, not Bunk. The federal government can also involve citizens in developing policies, establishing open municipal halls, survey studies, and citizens ’panels when formulating emerging technology laws, to give people a voice and lack of confidence.
One of the proven methods to solve the issue of lack of cooperation in the academic industry is a partnership funded by research and development between universities and technology centers, where a government -backed grant is established for universities to cooperate with private startups or innovation laboratories in technology problems in the real world. From my experience in the ecosystem of technology in Nigeria, many emerging companies are eager for the experience of artificial intelligence or Blockchain, but it lacks deep research support or infrastructure that academic institutions can provide. On the contrary, many university departments have researchers and students who rarely get an opportunity to implement their work outside the semester. Communication through structured and funded programs will not only accelerate innovation, but also building a new generation of ready -made technical talents.
Nigeria does not have a shortage of talent or ambition. What we need now is the intention. Emerging technologies provide us with the opportunity to jump beyond the old systems and the truly conducted design solutions for our unique context. But this opportunity will slip unless we act deliberately. We must build policies that open innovation, finance research that meets local needs, and enhance the audience’s understanding of these tools. The future of the Nigerian economy will not be written in oil barrels, but in code, data and ideas.
If we have now invested in people and infrastructure and strategy, we can turn the capabilities into progress. But if we wait, we risk become consumers of technology instead of creators. The choice is ours.
The upper part is to enhance technology
