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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate has begun moves to establish an Artificial Intelligence, Innovation and Communication Technology Solutions Centre in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
If established, the centre is expected to serve as a platform for developing homegrown digital solutions to local challenges in agriculture, health, education, and governance. It will also promote collaboration between government, academia, and industry while reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported technologies.
The bill, sponsored by spokesman of the Senate, Adeyemi Adaramodu, was first read on May 27, 2025. Leading debate on the proposal in plenary on Tuesday, Adaramodu said the centre would serve as a national hub for research, development and innovation in AI, robotics, data science
and other emerging technologies.
He explained that the proposed law was designed to prepare Nigeria for the realities of a digital-driven global economy where artificial intelligence now underpins governance, commerce, education, health and national security.
According to him, the initiative is primarily targeted at young Nigerians who are increasingly seeking opportunities in technology-driven sectors but lack access to structured training and innovation infrastructure.
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“The Centre will build the capacity of young Nigerians to acquire digital and AI-based skills for employment and entrepreneurship,” Adaramodu said. “Our youths are talented and creative, but they need structured access to facilities that can convert their ideas into practical innovations.”
He emphasised that the bill was not aimed at creating another layer of bureaucracy but a centre of excellence that would drive digital transformation and technological self-reliance.
“Every developed nation is investing heavily in artificial intelligence and innovation centres. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind,” he said. “This Bill provides the necessary legal framework to build capacity, coordinate innovation, and ensure that AI serves as a tool for national development rather than displacement.”
The senator noted that the establishment of the centre in Omuo-Ekiti was strategic, describing Ekiti as a hub of education and intellectual excellence. He said the project would not only boost innovation but also stimulate economic growth in the South-West and across the country.
He urged lawmakers to support the speedy passage of the bill, saying it aligns with the federal government’s priorities on youth empowerment, job creation and economic diversification.
