Speaking during Wednesday\u2019s annual Digital Africa conference, Isa Pantami, Nigeria\u2019s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, identified blockchain as part of the government\u2019s focus on emerging technologies, according to a report by Voice of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the conference theme \u2014 \u201cBuilding a New Africa with AI and Blockchain\u201d \u2014 Pantami stated that the government was working towards establishing innovation centers.<\/p>\n
According to Pantami, these innovation centers will explore capacity-building protocols for artificial intelligence, internet of things, robotics, cloud computing, and blockchain technology, among other fields.<\/p>\n
As part of his address, the communications minister said the move was part of efforts to promote an innovation-driven culture in Nigeria, adding:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also actively preparing to take advantage of Blockchain technologies for our digital economy, and we recently developed a National Blockchain Adoption Strategy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Back in October 2020, Nigeria\u2019s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) issued a draft strategy framework for blockchain. The document included a six-point agenda for utilizing the novel technology including national digital identity and regulatory sandboxes for pilot implementations.<\/p>\n
Addressing the conference, NITDA director-general Kashifu Inuwa stated that Nigeria can be a growth driver for AI and blockchain in Africa. In November 2020, Inuwa remarked that the country could generate up to $10 billion in revenue from blockchain by 2030.<\/p>\n
Pantami\u2019s ministry has been spearheading a mandatory national identity program in the country, a move that has generated significant controversy over the compulsory linkage of phone numbers to national ID data.<\/p>\n