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As part of its contribution to educational development in Nigeria, the Shamsuddeen Usman Foundation (SUF) is set to launch the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Nigeria.
According to a statement by Chairman, Media Subcommittee, Etim Etim, a trustee of the foundation, Sadiq Usman, stated that due to the enormous impact of Artificial Intelligence on education and other areas of economic and human development, it presents Nigeria an opportunity to leapfrog to the fourth industrial revolution He said: “We at the foundation feel that Nigeria and Nigerians must not be left behind in the fourth industrial revolution which is well underway.’’
Join our WhatsApp Channel‘’We in Africa are still trying to catch up with the first and second industrial revolution; we’re still talking about building energy, infrastructure, roads, but the world is talking about and moving to the fourth industrial revolution. But the beauty of it is that you can leapfrog to the fourth without achieving the second or the third,” he added.
Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman was Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, and later Minister of National Planning during the administrations of Presidents Musa Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
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The Foundation, together with a book cowritten by the former minister with other eminent Nigerians, will be officially unveiled at a public event in Abuja on 26 September. Proceeds from the book launch will go into the establishment of the AI centre.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, a trustee of the foundation and a son of the former minister, Sadiq Usman, said the SUF was established by Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman’s children to honour their father’s impactful life and leave a legacy for future generations. “Dr. Usman is a teacher; and he has always been a teacher, in addition to his public service positions he has held. He firmly believes in the power of education, of which he is a great beneficiary,’’ said Sadiq Usman, adding, “so Dr. Usman sees the AI centre as a national project; not a Northern or regional project; and that’s why we are seeking the support of people in the private and public sectors for it because it will have enormous impacts on the education of Nigerian children’’.
Dr. Usman taught economics at ABU, Zaria for several years in the 1980s before he changed career into the financial services. Even as CEO of a bank in Lagos in the 1990s, he devoted his weekends to teaching MBA students without asking for, and receiving payment for it.
The book that would be launched with the foundation is titled “Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World.” Highlighting the importance of the book, Etim said: “It is a unique publication on both the impetus for, and impediments to growth and development in emerging economies.
“It provides a fascinating and penetrating insight into the workings of government and the boardroom, in terms of policy formulation and implementation, economic management as well as the overall growth paradigm in the developing world, with Nigeria as a case study. The book is also an account of the interactions between the government, its agencies and the private sector and how such engagements impact national growth, investments and the overall performance of the economy.”
He explained that the book will be good for students in universities, academics, public and private sector officials. He further stated that other contributors to the book are “experts in their own fields, carefully selected, based on their impressive records in the public and private sectors, to share their experiences in key areas of policy making and development.” He added that the unique contributions of the experts “helped to broaden the book’s scope and impact, and give it its unique character and flavour.”
According to the statement the event will attract the attendance of notable personalities including Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima; former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
