By Ebenezer Mabinuola
In a major boost to Nigeria’s digital ambitions, the Federal Government has signed a groundbreaking agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scaling Hub.
Announced on June 2, 2025, the deal was sealed during a meeting in Abuja between Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Bill Gates, currently visiting Nigeria on a strategic mission. The Gates Foundation will invest up to $7.5 million in funding and technical support for the initiative, which aims to apply AI solutions to improve healthcare, agriculture, and education.
Dr. Tijani described the project as a critical step toward embedding technology into everyday life, from rural diagnostics to smarter farming and personalized learning. He emphasized the importance of connectivity as a foundation for AI deployment, especially in underserved communities.
The partnership reflects a broader push under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to foster digital inclusion and homegrown innovation. Gates was joined by senior foundation officials, including Paulin Basinga and Bunmi Okunowo, in what Tijani called “a moment of national significance.” The AI hub is expected to position Nigeria as a leader in context-driven AI solutions across Africa.
