Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Pantami, has faulted the relaunch of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) by his successor, Bosun Tijani.
Tijani announced the revitalization of NCAIR, highlighting enhancements in its capacity and partnerships with global tech firm Cisco.
However, Pantami took to social media to assert that NCAIR was already established during his tenure in November 2020, describing it “the first of its kind in Africa” and emphasizing its effectiveness in training numerous Nigerians.
“The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics has been built and commissioned in Nov 2020, almost 4 years ago. The first of its kind in Africa. It has been very effective, and thousands of Nigerians have been trained and trained. Legacy is achieved, not claimed.” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Tijani responded by detailing the new initiatives accompanying the relaunch, including increased computing infrastructure, dedicated research labs, and remote connectivity for AI hubs across the country.
He also unveiled outcomes from the Ministry’s National AI Workshop, such as the country’s first Multilingual Large Language Model and partnerships aimed at accelerating AI development projects of national significance.
The exchange between Pantami and Tijani underscores ongoing efforts to advance AI research and application in Nigeria while navigating questions of continuity and leadership transition within the Ministry.
