Kano State has launched a Hausa-language artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot to provide farmers, students, and traders with information on health, education, and commerce, officials said on Monday.
The initiative was announced by Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, Kano State Commissioner for Information, Science, Technology and Innovation, during the inaugural Digital Tech Policy Forum organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).
“This project will bring AI to our grassroots,” Kofar Mata said, adding that the state would assign a permanent representative to the forum and establish a committee to ensure AI policy discussions align with state planning.
The forum, held under the theme “Towards a National AI Policy,” gathered academics, policymakers, and technology experts to discuss ethical, governance, and infrastructural challenges shaping Nigeria’s digital landscape.
CITAD Executive Director Malam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u said the forum would hold monthly sessions to promote continuous dialogue between policymakers, academia, and civil society.
“Our goal is to ensure that technology policy in Nigeria is proactive, not reactive,” Ya’u said. “Innovations like AI should be guided by ethics, inclusivity, and human-centered values.”
Participants identified the absence of a national AI framework, infrastructure gaps, data privacy concerns, and ethical risks as key challenges. Dr. Hadiza Umar, Head of the Computer Science Department at Bayero University, stressed the need for urgent policy interventions.
“AI is transforming sectors from education to health and agriculture, but without regulation, it can deepen inequality,” she said.
Other speakers, including Engr. Rabi’u Haruna and Dr. Sanah Abdullahi Mu’az, emphasized the importance of professional input and responsible AI use, particularly in education, to prevent misuse and ensure accountability.
The forum concluded with a consensus that Nigeria must transition from being a passive consumer of foreign AI technologies to an active innovator and regulator in the global AI ecosystem.
“The future of AI in Nigeria depends on policies that focus not just on technology, but on people, trust, and shared prosperity,” Ya’u said.