In a remarkable move towards the future, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has partnered with Daimlas Corporation, a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation, to create a comprehensive AI ecosystem across Nigerian universities. This partnership marks a major step in revolutionizing higher education and equipping Nigerian academic institutions with state-of-the-art AI resources and opportunities for research and education.
The official signing ceremony took place in Abuja, where Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, Executive Secretary of NUC, expressed the commission’s commitment to the project and its potential for transforming Nigerian education. Reflecting on the partnership, Prof. Ribadu stated, “Based on the explanation and what they say, the next four years at least. It’s enough time for us to see and review and see that we are prepared. You know, it’s very good. Because at times, it’s like a gauge, so to say. And when you start it, then you see that you cannot do without it. And you are prepared to pay the one-off cost. So I think it’s a very good thing. And we are happy that we are established already in many institutions that are well-known around the world. So I must say that we are very happy that we willingly signed this thing.”
Joseph Wehbe, CEO of Daimlas Corporation, shared insights on the five-year journey that led to this partnership. He emphasized the widespread impact of AI on all aspects of society and academia, noting that institutions across the world, including universities in the US, as well as local governments and community colleges, are currently working on their own AI strategies. According to Wehbe, the goal of this initiative is to bring together various components of the AI ecosystem into a unified platform that will foster innovation and growth. “In a fully functioning AI ecosystem, you have AI research centres, you have AI labs, AI for entrepreneurs, AI for kids, AI for platform companies, for small businesses. And when you bring all these ecosystems together, you have great pathways for everyone that wants to participate in the AI economy. The taxonomy of an AI ecosystem is different from an ICT ecosystem,” Wehbe explained.
This partnership sets the stage for a future where Nigerian universities are not only participants in the AI revolution but also leaders in AI-driven education and research, paving the way for a stronger, more innovative economy.
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