The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital
Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani disclosed this in a statement on X with the intent to
encourage and inspire the use of technology.
“Our intent is to encourage and inspire the use of
technology, especially Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies like UAV, IoT,
AI & Blockchain, to optimise different sectors of our economy,” Tijani
said.
“So, I’m pleased to announce the launch our first 4IRTA
initiative https://4irta.nitda.gov.ng in Agriculture.”
He added that the Agriculture Demonstration Project will
allow Nigeria identify and mainstream market-ready innovations that leverage
these 4IR technologies to enhance productivity and sustainability in the
nation’s agricultural sector.
These projects will be designed as pilot to illustrate how
these technologies can be successfully implemented in Nigeria
Selected projects will receive up to N10,000,000 in funding
to deepen the application of 4IR technologies in their work.
The Ministry of Agriculture will provide support to selected
pilot farms and navigate a path to scale and sustainability.
According to the Minister, applications are open now at
https://4irta.nitda.gov.ng and will run till Thursday, December 7, 2023.
In a related development, Tijani said on X that an improved
connectivity for Nigerians is a critical infrastructure for economic growth in
the country.
“As we co-create innovative solutions in our digital
economy, we are actively learning about policy tools and financing models from
other parts of the world that will help connect the unserved and underserved,”
he posted.
He stated that the conversation on developing the right
funding model to finance broadband Connectivity, at the working group convened
by the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, Smart Africa and
other partners is an important step in bridging the digital divide, which is a
key outcome of Nigeria’s infrastructure pillar.