The United States and Nigeria have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance data protection and foster artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. The agreement, formalized by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Nigerian Investment Minister Doris Uzoka-Anite, established the US-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership.
This pact follows an earlier visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce Arun Venkataraman to Nigeria, where he met with Communications Minister Bosun Tijani. The joint statement obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday outlines a shared commitment to advancing the digital economy, fostering innovation, and boosting digital trade and investment between the two countries.
Raimondo and Tijani emphasized the potential benefits of the digital economy, including economic growth, job creation, and the promotion of an inclusive and sustainable digital future. They also highlighted the transformative role of AI in shaping economies and societies. Both officials stressed the need to harness AI’s capabilities while addressing its risks and committed to implementing the recent United Nations resolution on “safe and trustworthy AI systems for sustainable development.”
“Emphasizing the indispensable role of data in fueling AI innovation and development, the US Department of Commerce and the Nigerian Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy are committed to identifying areas of alignment and possible cooperation in our respective approaches to AI governance and adoption. This includes potential engagement with and between the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s U.S. AI Safety Institute and the Nigerian Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, with a focus on exchanging knowledge and best practices for the development and deployment of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the partnership aims to enhance data privacy and protection while facilitating secure cross-border data flows and exploring advancements in cloud security. Both countries plan to improve data protection mechanisms and develop interoperable systems for cross-border data transfers, which are crucial for AI and other technologies.
“The partnership will promote best practices in data protection and participate in forums such as the Global Cross Border Privacy Rules Forum to enhance international data protection and facilitate data flows,” they stated.
The US Department of Commerce expressed support for Nigeria’s engagement with the Global CBPR Forum, which could provide Nigerian organizations with additional tools to manage data transfers while maintaining robust data protection standards.
