The Federal Government of Nigeria and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have teamed up to promote technological innovation and sustainable development projects in the nation.
Dr. Felix Ale, the National Space Research and Development Agency’s Director of Media and Corporate Communications, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement claims that this partnership was strengthened when Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and USAID’s Chief Innovation Officer, Mohammed Abdel-Kader, met during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, USA.
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According to the statement, their conversations centred on using technology to solve urgent issues related to Nigeria’s growth.
Nnaji stated that the meeting emphasised the importance of forming creative alliances, particularly in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and digital financial inclusion.
“These partnerships are essential for strengthening Nigeria’s developing tech ecosystem as well as for enhancing the lives of marginalised communities,” he stated.
Partnership on tech to boost agricultural development
The minister underlined how technology has the power to develop meaningful solutions that can improve the lives of underprivileged groups and advance the country’s general economic development.
He claimed that one of the main topics of conversation was how AI might improve Nigerian farming methods.
He continued by saying that all sides recognised the importance of technological advancements that may enhance farming practices, with food security a major priority.
“Our goal is to meet the growing food demands of our country and support smallholder farmers while ensuring sustainable practices by utilising cutting-edge technologies,” he said.
According to Nnaji, the emphasis on agriculture is part of a larger plan to boost resilience and productivity in the face of climate change, which poses severe risks to the world’s food supply.
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Partnership on tech to boost energy
Another critical focus that came up frequently in the dialogue was energy access.
Nnaji also mentioned how the deployment of off-grid and renewable energy technology is essential to achieving Nigeria’s energy targets.
He noted that the potential for cooperation under USAID’s Power Africa initiative, which aims to increase access to power through greener, sustainable solutions, was discussed.
“To guarantee a dependable power supply for our communities, we must investigate distributed renewable energy technologies and incorporate AI into grid management,” he stated.
The minister added that the meeting was significant beyond the talks because Nigeria and USAID decided to formally establish a collaboration to identify and develop cutting-edge technology.
He continued by saying that the partnership intends to start collaborative research and pilot programs in essential fields like healthcare and education, where artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to alter these industries significantly.
“Our partnership with USAID will play a pivotal role in propelling the inventive solutions required to fulfil our national development objectives and enhance the standard of living for our populace,” stated Nanki.