The Federal Government has announced that its strategic Nigeria-Google partnership will drive the country’s digital transformation and position it as a global technology hub.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Inuwa Kashifu, revealed this in a television interview on Thursday. He emphasized that the partnership would focus on five key areas: infrastructure development, digital skills training, AI innovation, cloud adoption, and an investment framework.

“The Nigeria-Google partnership, which was launched following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Paris, will create an enabling ecosystem for technological growth,” Kashifu stated.

He also underscored the importance of data centers in boosting Nigeria’s digital economy, stressing the need for both government and private-sector organizations to store sensitive data locally.

“No data center worldwide relies solely on grid electricity. They go off-grid and adopt green energy for carbon credits. We are incorporating this into the partnership’s framework,” he said.

Kashifu highlighted the necessity of upskilling Nigeria’s workforce to maximize the opportunities provided by Google’s collaboration. He called for the integration of digital skills into the nation’s education system from primary to tertiary levels.

Addressing reports about Awari Technologies’ involvement, Kashifu clarified that it was not part of the Nigeria-Google partnership but rather a separate initiative under a Special Purpose Vehicle focused on developing a large language model to promote Nigerian languages and culture.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Tinubu’s meeting with Google’s CEO aims to accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a leading digital economy.