Delegates from over 30 African countries and the USA concluded on September 12 a two-day AI summit in Lagos, Nigeria, focused on promoting the safe development and deployment of AI in Africa. The Pan-African Conference on Artificial Intelligence, a collaboration between Abuja and Washington, brought together government officials, tech leaders, policymakers, academics, and entrepreneurs to discuss secure and reliable AI systems.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell highlighted the importance of fostering U.S.-Africa collaboration on AI research, emphasizing AI’s potential to address challenges in health, food security, education, energy, and climate change. He also underscored Africa’s growing role in the global tech landscape, referencing the African Union’s AI Strategy launched in July, which aims to transform Africa into a global technology hub.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced a $61,000 grant for Nigeria’s top AI startups. Currently, Africa represents 2.5% of the global AI market, but analysts project that focusing on safe AI use could boost the African economy by $2.9 billion by 2030, with key markets in Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria.