By 
In a groundbreaking move, three African nations – Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda – have pledged their commitment to ‘The Bletchley Declaration,’ a joint effort to address the potential risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI). They join 25 other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, in this world-first agreement aimed at tackling AI-related risks. Notably, all three African countries are among the top ten African governments that are well-prepared for AI adoption.
The historic agreement was formalized during the AI Safety Summit, hosted by the UK government at Bletchley Park in England. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, “This is a landmark achievement that sees the world’s greatest AI powers agree on the urgency behind understanding the risks of AI – helping ensure the long-term future of our children and grandchildren.”
At the summit, Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister for Digital Economy, emphasized the potential of AI to provide global access to insights and intelligence for development while highlighting the need for safe, ethical, and inclusive AI development.
Minister Tijani has been advocating for widespread AI adoption to enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness. In August, he unveiled plans to establish a comprehensive national AI strategy, building on the work of his predecessor. In October, Nigeria launched the AI Research Scheme, providing grants to 45 local startups and researchers to foster a sustainable AI ecosystem in the country.
Rwanda has already made significant strides in AI initiatives, surpassing Nigeria in some aspects. In April 2023, Rwanda introduced a national AI policy with a focus on AI literacy, infrastructure, data strategy, AI integration in public and private sectors, and ethical implementation. The country has allocated approximately $76.5 million for the policy’s implementation over the next five years.
Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, emphasized the importance of this policy in developing Rwanda’s AI ecosystem and positioning the country as a leader in AI technologies adapted for the African continent.
Kenya’s commitment to ‘The Bletchley Declaration’ is a renewed effort to address existing AI-related risks within the country. Two months ago, the Kenyan government paused the recruitment of new customers for the Worldcoin cryptocurrency project by Open AI, citing concerns about data privacy and security.
Similar to Nigeria, Kenya does not yet have an official national AI strategy or regulatory framework. Existing legislation, like the Data Protection Act of 2019, is being used to address AI-related matters in the country.
‘The Bletchley Declaration’ was signed by a diverse group of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines, and more. This global effort aims to build public trust by ensuring the safe development of AI technology, as highlighted by Michelle Donelan, the UK’s Technology Minister.
Comments