In a high-stakes move to domesticate frontier technologies, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Wigwe University have initiated a strategic alliance. The partnership aims to pivot Nigeria from a passive consumer of foreign technology to a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Smart Agriculture.
Wigwe University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi, is championing a shift toward technological sovereignty. Drawing on his experience establishing AI centers in Abu Dhabi and the UK, Al-Akaidi emphasized that the university’s goal is not merely to use foreign tools, but to engineer them locally.
“We aim to create the Nigerian AI—a locally driven, world-class AI engine that reflects the country’s needs, languages, and realities,” Professor Al-Akaidi stated.
With ten researchers already focused on AI for Health, the university plans to build a full-scale AI center dedicated to solving local challenges, from malaria diagnosis to medical data management.
Leveraging its location in the agricultural heartland of Rivers State, Wigwe University is positioning itself as a laboratory for AI-enabled food production. By applying AI to livestock management and land use, the partnership seeks to bridge the productivity gap.
“In countries with fewer cattle, output is far higher because of technology,” Al-Akaidi noted. “If we apply AI properly, Nigeria’s agricultural wealth can multiply.”
For NITDA, this collaboration is a direct execution of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan.
Representing the Agency, Dr. Aristotle highlighted that the university’s vision aligns perfectly with NITDA’s National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and the National Adaptive Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA).
The collaboration is built on the philosophy that teaching must be underpinned by active research. Professor Al-Akaidi stressed the need for constant curriculum review in computing and engineering to prevent “outdated learning.”
“Whatever we commit to, we will do,” Dr. Aristotle assured the delegation. “We understand the importance of partnership because no single institution has all the answers.”
Both institutions have moved to establish dedicated contact teams to execute specific workstreams, focusing on AI Research & “Nigerian AI” development, smart agriculture pilot programs in Rivers State and virtual learning platforms to expand national access to digital literacy.