FG: Deployment of fibre optic cables will be prioritised within three years

Bosun Tijani, minister of communication, innovation and digital economy, says the federal government is committed to ensuring absolute connectivity across the country with fibre optic cable deployment within the next two to three years.

Tijani spoke ahead of the third i-FAIR cohort graduation ceremony of the nine-month mentorship programme for budding innovators and entrepreneurs, organised by the Israeli embassy on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister said the federal government is prioritising promoting the talent technology workforce in the country to achieve growth.

He also said there would be complete deployment of the fibre active network which “Nigeria must achieve in the next two-three years”.

“One of the things I will prioritise at the end of the first term of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is that the talent technology workforce Nigeria will have will be more than enough to power technology development,” he said.

“Also, the country can be a net exporter of technology talents. I will also prioritise connectivity. The digital economy cannot thrive if the cost of connectivity is not reasonable.

“It has to be available everywhere you go in the country. Even villages should have access to connectivity.

“For me, this is prioritising the complete deployment of the fibre active network which Nigeria must achieve in the next two to three years, and we have the backing of the President.”

Tijani said the aim is to tackle issues associated with modern-day challenges, adding that today’s reality and tomorrow’s innovation require artificial intelligence (AI) skills to match developed economies of the world.

“For AI,  every developed country in the world is freaking out about development in AI. In reality, they do not have the workforce to power it,” the minister added.

“If we do not take advantage of being part of the AI, even if it is just to provide the workforce, we are wasting time.

“In two to three years, AI will prompt how you think and what you do. AI will prompt development.

“In the next five to 10 years, we may start crying about discrimination most of which will be racial because AI is based on datasets.

“The current dataset that is feeding AI is coming from countries that are ready but if we do not want it to happen to Nigerians, we have to join the game.”

The minister said AI would help to change agriculture, education, healthcare, and productivity, adding that we have better opportunities with AI than in the developed world.

“It helps us to become productive with industries and sectors where we are currently weak,” he said.

Tijani, however, said these goals cannot be carried out without entrepreneurs, adding that the government has plans to support entrepreneurs.