FG projects $60B GDP boost with National Centre For Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

The federal government has projected that Nigeria can boost her current GDP of about $400billion by 15% to bring the total GDP to about $460billion annually with the commissioning of National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) .

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is frequently applied to the project of developing systems endowed with the intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience.

Robotics is the engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and operation of robots. Robots are complementary to human labour and can be applied in hazardous environment such as firefighting, nuclear field and many more.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi said the Centre is built to foster the development of emerging technologies in preparing Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and strategy.

“This project is one among many of our developmental programmes in accordance with NITDA’s core mandate of facilitating the growth of Information Technology (IT) development in Nigeria.

“We are focused on providing support for viable innovations with socio-economic impact as well as a level playing field for all Nigerians to thrive in. As we enter the age of advanced technological breakthroughs such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nigeria cannot be left out in harnessing the advantages of AI, Robotics and other emerging technologies.

“AI has the potential to add to economic growth but the impact may be gradual and take sometimes to manifest according to McKinsey Global Institute. Develop countries can add 20 to 25% net income to their GDP while developing countries like Nigeria can add 5 to 15%. Nigerian GDP is around 400B USD thus AI can add between 20B to 60B USD in 10 years. This centre is aimed at achieving such unprecedented boost to our economy,” explained Abdullahi.

He averred that President Muhammadu Buhari led administration would seize the opportunities of AI and Robotics to create jobs for the teeming youth and invest for the future generation.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami in address expressed delight saying that the NCAIR is
in alignment with the mandates of President Muhammadu Buhari on job creation and economic diversification.

According to Pantami, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics are 2 very important emerging technologies that will shape the face of future technologies with being proactive to enable Nigeria play a key role in how these technologies evolve.

The Minister noted that the NCAIR will serve as a leading hub of innovation, research and development, knowledge transfer, and training in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and other emerging technologies.

He further said the adoption of regulatory sandbox frameworks for testing technology in a controlled environment will enable the Center accelerate the progress the country is making in the development of her digital economy.