The Federal Government plans to establish a National Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence at the University of Jos as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital transformation and position academic institutions at the heart of technology-driven development.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed the plan in a post on LinkedIn on Sunday following his convocation lecture at the University of Jos.
Tijani said the proposed centre would serve as a hub for artificial intelligence research, skills development and innovation, helping to integrate academic research with industry needs and government priorities.
The minister spoke while delivering the convocation lecture at the university’s 35th and 36th Convocation Ceremony, which also coincided with its 50th anniversary. His lecture was titled “Building a Prosperous Nigeria: Academic Institutions and the Architecture of a Technology-Powered Society.”
According to him, Nigeria’s universities must play a central role in the country’s development journey by acting as engines of research, innovation and talent development, adding that closer collaboration between academia, industry and government was urgently needed to translate knowledge into real-world impact.
Tijani said locating the AI centre at the university would position the institution as a key contributor to Nigeria’s emerging artificial intelligence ecosystem and support the Federal Government’s broader digital economy agenda.
The announcement aligns with Nigeria’s recent push to scale artificial intelligence beyond pilot projects into tangible sector impact. The country has rolled out a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, established a government-backed AI Collective ecosystem, and introduced new programmes such as an AI Scaling Hub and a National AI Trust to accelerate adoption across key sectors.
In April 2025, Nigeria formally launched its National AI Strategy in Lagos, outlining a framework to drive AI-led productivity and economic growth. The strategy is built around five pillars: infrastructure, development of a world-class AI ecosystem, sector-wide adoption, responsible use of AI, and strong governance, with 12 goals and 34 initiatives guiding implementation.
To support coordination and inclusive innovation, the government also created the Nigeria AI Collective Ecosystem, bringing together more than 70 AI leaders from companies, start-ups, professional bodies and enabling organisations. A National AI Trust, set up in early 2025, is tasked with overseeing execution of the strategy and coordinating AI investments across critical sectors.
These initiatives complement existing talent-development pipelines such as the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, alongside growing private-sector deployment of AI solutions in education, healthcare and financial services.
Tijani also described his return to the University of Jos, his alma mater, as deeply personal, thanking the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, and the university’s leadership for the invitation and warm reception.
He said he left Jos encouraged by the energy and ambition of the institution, reaffirming his belief that empowering academic institutions to lead in innovation would help build a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.