By Muhammad Sal
Ekiti State is thriving to be a major hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation in Nigeria, leveraging high literacy, government support, and homegrown tech talent to build a future-ready knowledge economy.
Despite being one of Nigeria’s smaller states by size, Ekiti boasts the third-highest literacy rate in the country at 95.7%, a foundation that state leaders are keen to build on. With a renewed ICT policy focused on AI, the state aims to ensure its youth are equipped for the digital economy, including creating an AI model tailored for the Ekiti dialect, preserving local culture and language.
The government has prioritized infrastructure upgrades, including expanding fibre-optic networks connecting government offices, universities, and schools, and pushing digital transformation such as paperless government operations. Yet, challenges remain with limited local connectivity and the need for more experienced AI developers.
Local tech hubs like KinPlus, McKodev Tech Lab, and PurpleBee Technologies are key partners in this transformation. They provide hands-on training and develop AI tools like PurpleBee’s AI-powered school result management system currently used in 20 public schools. These hubs focus on “Afrocentric” tech solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique context.
Education reform starts young, with robotics and AI programs introduced from age seven, aiming to make Ekiti’s children globally competitive. The state also recognizes the need for ongoing teacher training to keep pace with emerging technologies.
As Ekiti’s former Innovation Commissioner Seun Fakuade put it, AI is a powerful force shaping the future, and Ekiti is determined to not just participate, but lead, building a digital economy that reflects local strength and global potential.
The journey is ongoing, but the foundation is strong and the vision clear.
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