The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, Friday, announced the Federal Government will award N5 million each to 45 startups and researchers focusing on AI.

The newly launched Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme aims to support the mainstreaming of the application of Artificial Intelligence for economic prosperity.

The minister made this known in a post on X.

“We’ve launched the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme to fund 45 consortia of startups and researchers to allow them to explore further opportunities to deepen their work and build a sustainable AI ecosystem in Nigeria.

“We are inviting researchers and startups working in AI to apply for up to N5m (Five Million Naira) at this link airg.nitda.gov.ng/#, as we build a strong foundation for our ministry’s efforts to drive innovation, increase productivity in critical sectors and position Nigeria as a global centre for AI technology application.”

According to the information shared on the scheme’s website, the areas being looked at include Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Finance, Governance, Healthcare, Utility, and Sustainability.

The applicant must be a consortium made up of a start-up or technology company, a Nigerian university researcher, or a foreign researcher in order to be qualified for the grant, according to the Ministry (among other eligibility criteria).

The application opens on October 13, 2023, and ends on November 15, 2023. The Ministry said all applications must be submitted through the designated online channel provided.

It added that the proposals will be evaluated by a panel of AI experts, while shortlisted applicants will be notified via email and invited for an interview.