Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is hunting for artificial intelligence partnerships to boost agriculture, healthcare, and education across the state, calling on the federal government to set ethical rules for how these technologies get used.
AbdulRazaq made the push during a policy dialogue on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, stressing that states cannot sit idle while AI reshapes how economies work. He said Kwara needs to jump into the AI space now or risk being left behind as other countries and states race ahead with the technology.
The governor framed AI as a tool that could fix real problems in farming, where most Kwara residents depend on traditional methods that yield little. He said AI could help farmers predict weather patterns, identify crop diseases early, and boost yields without waiting for extension officers who rarely visit their farms anyway. In healthcare, he noted that AI diagnostic tools could reach rural communities where doctors are scarce and help detect diseases before they become emergencies.
On education, AbdulRazaq said AI could personalise learning for students, freeing teachers to focus on mentoring rather than drilling the same lesson 40 times to different learning speeds. He also flagged that the state needs to train young Kwarans to build and maintain AI systems, not just use them.
But the governor warned that Nigeria cannot simply copy how other countries use AI. He called for a regulatory framework that reflects Nigerian and African values, one that protects citizens from bias in algorithms, prevents misuse of personal data, and ensures the technology does not deepen inequality between rich and poor regions.
AbdulRazaq said state governments should have a seat at the table when the federal government designs these rules. He argued that a one-size-fits-all regulation from Abuja may not work for states with different economic realities, and that Kwara's farming-focused economy needs different AI safeguards than Lagos.
The governor plans to engage technology companies, research institutions, and development partners to pilot AI projects in Kwara. He did not name specific partners yet, but signalled that the state would prioritise projects that directly serve the poorest residents rather than trendy applications that look good on paper.
Kwara's push reflects a broader shift among Nigerian states to stop waiting for federal leadership on emerging technologies and take their own steps to participate in the global AI economy.
