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African countries have typically fallen behind the West in terms of technological developments up to now, with the internet taking much longer to spread across the continent than it did in Europe and America. Some nations, such as Nigeria, are keen to avoid this happening again, and are already making big strides forward in the artificial intelligence industry.
The Nigerian government recently announced a $1.5 million fund to support AI developments, and it clearly wants to make the country a spot where businesses in the industry can flourish.
Thanks to the initiative in place in Nigeria, many companies are now emerging in the AI space. There are startups in a wide range of sectors, ranging from fintech to productivity. Interswitch, for instance, is a payment solutions company leveraging AI to enhance financial transactions and services. There’s also VESTI, which is aiming to facilitate secure and efficient money transfers through AI and blockchain technology.
In the logistics market, Kobo360 is a new platform that connects cargo owners with transporters. It uses AI to streamline the process and make the supply chain as efficient as possible. There’s also Fireflie.ai, which is an AI-based platform designed to transcribe and summarize meetings. These are just a few of the exciting companies that have emerged in Nigeria over the last couple of years, and there are likely to be many more to follow thanks to the government grants available in the space.
AI could be a gamechanger for Nigeria, as it could help the African nation catch up with the Western world in some key areas. It’s already evident that there’s a great focus on financial services, as this aligns with the spread of internet access in the country and the growing number of people wanting to perform safe online transactions.
AI could have an impact on entertainment as well. This is one of the main sectors that people access online, and AI will help tailor content to different users. Many people like to pass the time with an online casino in Nigeria, with slot games among the most popular titles. Instead of scrolling through games like Big Bass Splash and Age of the Gods to try to decide which one to play, AI may be able to recommend options for different users. The technology could also be used in game development, as it will be able to analyze what features Nigerian players want in their titles.
Agriculture will likely be a big area of focus for AI in Nigeria , as the country has endlessly strived for ways to improve its methods over the years. AI-powered tools will be able to give farmers better data on things like weather patterns and soil health, and this will lead to improved yields.
It's unlikely that Nigeria will be able to keep pace with the global tech giants in the West and China, but it’s good to see that the country is already moving towards AI integration. It means that it won’t be left behind as AI gradually sweeps the world.
