The Nigerian Senate advanced discussions on Tuesday on a bill to establish the Artificial Intelligence (AI), Innovation, and Communication Technology Solutions Centre in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, a key step towards institutionalising research and innovation in the country.
The proposed law, SB 763, supported by Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), has officially passed the second reading.
The bill aims to promote the research, development, and implementation of AI and emerging technologies to meet national development goals.
It has been forwarded to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity for further legislative action, with a report due in four weeks.
Leading the debate, Adaramodu described the proposed centre as a “national hub for research, innovation, and development” that would anchor Nigeria’s transition into the global AI economy.
He stressed that any country that fails to integrate AI into its governance, education, and industrial processes risks being left behind in the 21st-century digital revolution.
“The establishment of this Centre in Omuo-Ekiti will not only stimulate research and innovation but also catalyse economic growth in the South-West region and across the country,” he said.
“This Bill represents an important step toward securing Nigeria’s place in the global technological landscape and aligns with our goals of youth empowerment, job creation, and economic diversification.”
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