By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government has unveiled plans to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to transform its ...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Government has unveiled plans to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to transform its agricultural and healthcare sectors in alignment with global best practices.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago made this known during the state’s side event at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA.
The “farmer governor,” as he is fondly called, reiterated his administration’s commitment to attracting investors and forging strategic partnerships that will improve the lives of citizens and reposition Niger State as a hub of innovation and development.
He emphasized that meaningful collaborations with development partners are essential to “changing the Nigerian narrative,” particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture and health.
Governor Bago announced that the state will work closely with technology providers and development agencies to integrate AI-driven solutions into the agricultural sector. The goal, he noted, is to enhance productivity and achieve food sufficiency.
“With the use of technology, Niger State will, within the next two years, clear 2.5 million hectares of land for crop production and facilitate contract farming through diaspora-led foreign investment,” the governor stated.
He further explained that the state will leverage its comparative advantage in agriculture to pilot transformative initiatives across the value chain, creating opportunities for farmers and investors alike.
On healthcare, Governor Bago revealed that his administration will deploy AI-powered telemedicine solutions across all Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state to bridge the gap in healthcare access, especially in rural communities.
“Our aim is to ensure quality healthcare delivery reaches the remotest parts of the state. Technology is the bridge that will help us achieve this,” he said.
Development Partners Laud the Governor’s Vision
In separate remarks at the event, Zainab Ahmed, Group Executive Director at the World Bank; Muhammad Sani Dattijo, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and Hajiya Aisha Ahmad Ndanusa, former Deputy Governor of the CBN, commended Governor Bago’s bold leadership and commitment to sustainable development.
They described the New Niger Agenda as visionary and pledged their support in helping the state achieve its goals, particularly in the agricultural sector.
The Niger State side event at the UNGA, themed "Bridging the Gap: Subnational Development, Human Capital and Agricultural Transformation", featured robust discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing subnational governments in achieving inclusive growth.
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