Nigeria is set to house an institute dedicated to robotics and artificial intelligence, spearheaded by Professor Bart Nnaji, founder and chairman of the Geometric Power Group.
Professor Nnaji, a former Minister of Science and Technology as well as a former Minister of Power, made this announcement during a lecture commemorating the centenary of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, a Catholic Church institution serving Anambra and Enugu states.
With a distinguished background in robotics and AI, including postdoctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and roles as a Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Director of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Nnaji later led a consortium of universities funded by the United States National Science Foundation at the University of Pittsburgh.
During his lecture, Nnaji disclosed that the institute has undergone thorough scrutiny by the Federal Government through the Attorney General’s office and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
He noted that the application for the institute was made in 2017, and it took four years for the government to determine that “it is in the national interest to have such an advanced facility.”
The institute’s objectives include offering education and certifications in computer sciences focused on the technology of intelligent machines and robots, training in designing hardware capable of performing autonomous tasks repeatedly, and conducting research into algorithms that enable machines to learn and behave intelligently with minimal human input.
Dike Ejike, a mechanical engineer and consultant who attended the centenary event, praised the foresight behind establishing the institute.
He remarked that “it is remarkable that far-reaching steps were taken to establish the institute in Nigeria long before generative artificial intelligence took the world by storm since November 30 2022, when Sam Altman and his group at OpenA1 launched ChatGTP in the United States, which has radically changed the way the world learns, conducts research, and does business.”
While Professor Nnaji did not specify the timeline or location for the institute’s operations, Dike urged Nigerians and the government to support the initiative, noting its potential to propel the country into the competitive field of AI.
He further highlighted the importance of prioritising STEM education in Nigeria, citing Vietnam’s annual production of 90,000 STEM graduates as a model.
Nnaji underscored the economic potential of technology, referencing Nvidia, a company founded by Jansen Huan that made $15.3 billion in profit last quarter, compared to Nigeria’s $25 billion annual crude oil revenue.
He also advocated for integrating world-class economics and management programmes into Nigeria’s education system to enhance global competitiveness.
At the centenary event, Nnaji encouraged Bigard Memorial Seminary to upgrade its academic offerings, suggesting the introduction of licenses or master’s degrees for its students and affiliation with Nigerian or foreign universities, as seen with other institutions like the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) in Port Harcourt.
Alternatively, he proposed that Bigard could apply for full university status to reflect its century-long legacy.
The audience, including Reverend Father Albert Ikpenwa, the seminary’s rector, received Nnaji’s recommendations with enthusiasm.
The event also featured speeches by notable figures such as Francis Cardinal Arinze, an alumnus and former Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican.
