FG, Gates Foundation Launch $7.5M AI Hub to Revolutionize Healthcare, Farming, and Learning in Nigeria
In a bold move to lead Africa’s AI revolution, Nigeria has signed a $7.5 million deal with the Gates Foundation to establish a national AI Scaling Hub.
The initiative will apply AI to real-life issues like healthcare, farming, and education, empowering local talent and transforming service delivery.
In a bold step toward positioning Nigeria as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) on the African continent, the Federal Government has signed a groundbreaking $7.5 million agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Scaling Hub. The deal, sealed during a high-level meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, will see the creation of a collaborative innovation space designed to drive the large-scale use of AI solutions in critical areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and education.
“This moment is deeply personal and nationally significant,” Dr. Tijani shared. “It reflects a shared commitment to ensuring Nigeria doesn’t just use technology; we shape it to solve real, everyday problems.” While specific rollout details will be announced later, Dr. Tijani confirmed that the AI Scaling Hub will prioritize practical, real-world applications of artificial intelligence, focusing on helping farmers, improving access to quality healthcare, and transforming learning environments across the country.
A Strategic Collaboration for Impact The hub, which will operate as a multi-partner initiative, aims to bring together government bodies, tech startups, researchers, and development agencies to scale up AI solutions already tested and proven effective.
The Gates Foundation has committed $7.5 million to the project over the next three years, backing its belief in Nigeria’s potential to lead on responsible AI development in Africa. “This partnership is about empowering Nigerian innovators with the tools, mentorship, and support to take their solutions to scale,” Dr. Tijani said. “It’s also about ensuring that these technologies are deployed equitably and responsibly.” Gates Foundation Reaffirms Africa Focus Bill Gates, who is currently on a tour of African countries, reiterated his foundation’s focus on supporting innovation-led development across the continent.
Gates emphasized that the foundation prioritizes working with governments that are serious about leveraging technology to create real change. In Nigeria, Gates is also scheduled to meet with President Bola Tinubu and attend the Goalkeepers Nigeria event, which will spotlight local AI and healthcare innovations. A New Era for Nigeria’s AI Ecosystem. The AI Scaling Hub aligns with Nigeria’s broader national digital agenda, including the recently developed National AI Strategy, which outlines ethical and effective use of AI technologies across sectors.
“The hub represents a major leap forward in our mission to harness AI for development,” said Uche Amaonwu, Nigeria Country Director at the Gates Foundation. “It’s about unlocking opportunities for local talent and ensuring the benefits of AI reach the communities that need them most.”
The initiative will not only help improve public services but also enhance productivity in agriculture and strengthen health systems, offering a scalable model for how governments and global partners can collaborate to unlock the potential of emerging technologies.
By focusing on AI-driven solutions that directly impact lives, Nigeria is taking a strong lead in Africa’s digital transformation journey and setting an example for how innovation can be made inclusive and impactful.
