The Federal Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) say they are exploring technology solutions to boost food security and energy access in Nigeria.
Nigeria, through the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, is partnering with USAID to drive innovation in key sectors across the country, according to Chief Uche Nnaji, Innovation, Science and Technology Minister.
This collaboration, Nnaji says, will enhance electricity access through “cleaner, more sustainable power generation, AI integration in grid management, and the application of AI in transforming agricultural practices in Nigeria.”
Minister: USAID to scale innovative technologies for addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges
The partnership was discussed during a meeting between the Nigerian Minister and Mr Mohamed Addel-Kader, the Chief Innovation Officer of USAID, at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79).
According to the Minister, the meeting focused on rendering technological solutions to enhance food security and address the energy access challenge faced in Nigeria.
“With the pressing need to enhance food security through technological innovation, and the ongoing energy access challenge, there is a necessity for deploying off-grid and renewable energy technologies,” Nnaji, says while emphasising how this will increase productivity and build resilience against climate change.
During the meeting, a potential collaboration with the USAID Power Africa Initiative was also discussed.
This collaboration, Nnaji says, will enhance electricity access through “cleaner, more sustainable power generation, AI integration in grid management, and the application of AI in transforming agricultural practices in Nigeria.”
Both parties agreed to distribute renewable energy technologies and fund energy projects to support smallholder farmers in meeting Nigeria’s growing food demands.
The Minister says that by formalising the partnership, USAID aims to identify and scale innovative technologies that address major development challenges within Nigeria.
“This partnership will foster joint research and pilot projects and will be instrumental in driving the innovative solutions necessary to meet our national development goals and improve the quality of life of our citizens,” Nnaji adds while reaffirming his commitment to bettering the lives of underserved populations and scaling Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
He acknowledged that the partnership with USAID will help achieve these goals and bring advancement to the technological space of Nigeria.
The Ministry’s alliance with USAID comes in the wake of partnership talks with Italy which the Minister says is focused on strengthening the partnership under the MATTEI Plan for Africa.
Through the Ministry’s Project Delivery, Monitoring, and Evaluation team (MIST PROD-ME), “we presented the concept note for a partnership under Italy’s ‘Italia Africa A Bridge for Common Growth’ initiative to the Italian ambassador, H.E. Stefano De Leo, and his diplomatic entourage.
Accompanying him were the Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Iacopo Foti, and the Commercial Attaché, Mr. Andrea Perugini,” Nnaji says in a post on social media platform, X.
“This partnership will support the ministry’s mandate of coordinating sustainability in innovation, science, and technology across the entire government and economy and designed to address national challenges in agriculture, environmental protection, and other sectors,” according to the Minister.
Nnaji says that key initiatives proposed in the partnership include the application of satellite technology for flood alert systems, optimizsng livestock farming, and other areas such as geo-mapping, greenhouse gas monitoring, and telemedicine networks
“As you may recall,” Nnaji says, “we recently tackled the issues of Earth tremors and the release of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. Through our space data capabilities, we were able to send timely flood alerts and, with sustained monitoring, provided updated information when the danger was averted.”
According to him, the Italian ambassador emphasises the importance of partnering with an African country, noting that Nigeria’s involvement would enhance capacity while expressing Italy’s commitment to finding shared interests and stressed that these initiatives can be successfully realised in Nigeria.
“Through the MIST PROD-ME team, including SA’s Dr. Christpeace Ezebuiro & Dr. Patrick Oghuma, Scientific Officer Joan John Okon & supervisory lead Dr. Emeka Orjih, Senior Technical Adviser on Finance, International Cooperation, Partnerships, and M&E, our work is yielding progress,” Nnaji says.
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