Nigeria’s Digital Economy Minister engages first cohort of Bosun Tijani Foundation AI Fellowship

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has shared optimism about the potential impact of the first cohort of the Bosun Tijani Foundation AI Fellowship, following an engagement session with participants in Abeokuta. The programme, organised in partnership with the Ogun State Government, is focused on empowering young talents to develop practical AI-driven solutions for national development.

Dr. Tijani said the participants demonstrated a strong sense of curiosity, resilience, and willingness to learn, adding that several fellows are already exploring innovative applications of artificial intelligence in areas such as healthcare diagnostics, legal administration processes, and forest inventory tracking. He noted that although the fellowship is only three months underway, the drive and ambition exhibited by the young innovators show promising signs of future success.

The Minister reiterated his commitment to providing continuous support and guidance to the fellows throughout their journey, while emphasising the critical role AI capacity building plays in accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and strengthening its tech talent pipeline.