Nigeria expands AI collaboration with Israel, UNESCO and EU

Nigeria and Israel deepened their cooperation on artificial intelligence at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Bootcamp 2026 in Abuja. The programme, organised by Innov8 Hub, brought together innovators, startup founders and researchers to develop AI‑driven businesses in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and finance. Israeli Ambassador Michael Freeman said artificial intelligence should be seen as “a tool for empowerment rather than a threat to employment,” emphasizing the potential to create new industries and jobs.

Separately, UNESCO and the European Union announced support for Nigeria’s ethical digital transformation by launching the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Report. The report, presented in Abuja, gave Nigeria an AI readiness score of 47.9 and highlighted strong regulatory maturity but gaps in infrastructure and capital. UNESCO officer Dimitri Sanga stressed the need for “governance frameworks that place people at the centre of technological advancement,” while the EU pledged further investment in research partnerships, standards development and advanced computing infrastructure.

Both initiatives signal a broader strategic effort to position Nigeria as a regional leader in AI innovation, combining technical training, ethical guidelines and international funding to boost economic growth and inclusive technology development.