During the 2nd Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Summit that held recently in Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria from 21st-23rd March 2023, Tracy Yekaghe, IT Edge News. Africa, interacted with the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Professor Adesina Simon Sodiya on the value of the summit to national development. This year’s event held with the theme: AI and Robotics for National Development. Sodiya, a Professor of Computer Science and Information Security, expressed conviction that AI and Robotics will ultimately reposition Nigeria’s major social and economic sectors including health, education, and manufacturing.
Q: Tell us about the 2nd Artificial Intelligence & Robotic Summit and the reason behind this annual summit?
Ans: You know Nigerian Computer Society is the foremost and number one IT body in this country and one of the major objectives of NCS is to develop capacity in all areas of IT and computing.
Few years ago we discovered that just about 3% of professionals in Nigeria are in the area of AI and Robotics and yet to develop to the level we desire.
Hence, as the leading IT body we thought to create programs and relevant activities that would create awareness in the area of AI and Robotics that would make some of our people develop the needed Interest.
Also, because of the opportunities currently available in the adoption of AI in all the things we do, we decided that we would develop capacity in this area which led to the putting together of this summit.
The first edition held in Nassarawa state and this is the second edition of which we did our best to make this particular edition way better than the previous one.
Q: What does this summit seek to achieve in the long run?
Ans: This summit would be an avenue for engaging government on how they can use AI and Robotics to drive good governance in order to enhance the economic function of this nation. This summit also seeks to expose participants since it is important that we begin to develop AI enabled tools and applications of which some already exist in different parts of the world.
We are using the opportunity of this summit to also bring awareness of emerging technologies in the industry since our long term goal is to advance these innovations and inventions by attracting more investors and venture capitalists as well as other corporate organizations, individuals and government to show interest and support this kind of program.
“This summit would be an avenue for engaging government on how they can use AI and Robotics to drive good governance in order to enhance the economic function of this nation.”
Q: What has the impact been like? Are there success stories recorded thus far from those who have participated in the past conference?
Ans: During the summit of last year, some participants were exposed and we even got collaborators from outside the country. We now have some of our people who are currently working closely with AI experts outside Nigeria to build solutions for the country.
As a result of the previously organized summit one of the participants got connected with someone from outside of the country, even though that might not directly benefit us in the long run since he is going to develop another nation. Nevertheless, he got exposed as a result of his participation during the summit.
Q: Are there future developments you may want to share about?
Ans: We are looking forward to making recommendations to the government to also begin to have programs in our universities in AI and Robotics. We intend to propose BSc degree in AI and Robotics to the NUC – National Universities Commission.
We are also proposing the launch of the Tech Kid Program at the level of our state chapters across the federation. The aim of this program is to ensure the development of the young boys from primary levels and secondary levels as far the area of AI and Robotics are concerned.
NCS also runs what is known as Technology Innovation Program which is an incubation program for youths working on different ideas but finding it difficult to transform such ideas into a working solution.
We would provide financial and technical support; of which our focus for this year is directed to those already building or have ideas that are AI-solution based for the purpose of enhancing national development.
“We look forward to having a number of indigenous robots that would be used in some of our industries for industrial automation…We are also looking forward to the full deployment of AI in Nigeria’s health sector, agricultural sector, sports sector and many other areas.”
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is currently working with the Nassarawa State Government to build an AI and Robotics Center.
We are also in partnership with the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) that currently runs the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The aim is to train more young people by exposing them in the area of AI and Robotics.
We look forward to having a number of indigenous robots that would be used in some of our industries for industrial automation, serving as interface between human beings and highly sophisticated machines. We are also looking forward to the full deployment of AI in Nigeria’s health sector, agricultural sector, sports sector and many other areas.
“We are looking forward to making recommendations to the government to also begin to have programs in our universities in AI and Robotics. We intend to propose BSc degree in AI and Robotics to the NUC – National Universities Commission.”
Q: Are there challenges?
Ans: Although we got someone last year who gave us an opportunity for grants and fellowship, we are seeking for more funds to support this cause. We believe that with more support, we would be able to scale the efforts of these young people already working on their AI solution based ideas.
