The Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforme (BPSR), Dr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi has revealed that the Nigerian government now has a new curriculum that is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain-based backed technology, as part of its inclusive digitalisation of public service system.
He said the government remains committed to creating a digitised public service for school children to be empowered to responsibly operate and manage the digital tool, as policies and programs have been set up for them, to enable them effectively key into technology.
He added that as a result of its
national AI adoption and blockchain technology improvement progress, Nigeria now has e-government master plan, to further entrench the use of technology.
He spoke while presenting a paper on artificial intelligence, blockchain adoption, and Nigerian public service, Monday at the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain Conference and training AIBIC- Abuja 2025, organised by Havel Corporate Concept Limited.
He noted that: “School children should key into technology. Policies and programs have been set up for them.
” We have a new curriculum that is supporting adoption of use of AI, use, so, we are creating a space for them where they will be safe within the space of technology utilization.”
In his paper, he looked at the historical background of public service reforms in Nigeria, 2004 to date, and emphasized on the adoption of the use of technology.
He said: “This is what we started in 2004, but by the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms, where we hope to digitalize public service 100%. We are aware that we have made quite a number of progress in digitalizing public financial management, which is now handled paperless 100% by all MDAs.
” We now have a target that we have set for ourselves, and at the office of the head of civil service, to digitalize all ministries’ activities between now and the end of December 2025. Also, between 2002 and 2003, BPSR signed a memorandum of understanding with NCC to further deepen the process of adopting the use of AI and blockchain technology. And we’re happy to say that at the end of the day today, Nigeria has an e-government master plan.
” We also have a strategy for the adoption of the use of AI and blockchain technology in managing the work process within the federal public service, which is aimed at improving transparency, accountability, fighting corruption, but most importantly, ensuring there is improvement in effectiveness and quality of service that we render – supporting adoption of use of AI.”
According to him, “Over 10 ministries are fully paperless, and we are hoping that others will join before the end of the year. To us, as a bureau, creation or production of the e-government master plan, these policies on AI and blockchain technology, point of success for us.”
Earlier, in his address, the convener, Dr. Ahmed Badanga, CEO Havel
Corporate Concept Limited, noted that the importance of AI becomes clearer when people explore how it enhances efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making across different areas of life.
He added that combining Al and Blockchain technology creates intelligent, secure, and
transparent systems with several positive outcomes across various industries.
According to him, the essence of the conference is to bring together stakeholders/experts
to further x-ray how the integration of the two technologies can help creates systems that
are not only smarter and more efficient but also more transparent, secure, and resilient.
He added that the conference also tries to bring to focus, the essential role of legislation, and the need to
examine and have a public discussion and opinion around the current regulatory framework
on Al in particular, and the impact of the multiple Bills concerning that have been introduced in the National Assembly.
He disclosed that its initiative to introduce Al Club in Nigerian Schools, a framework aimed at empowering young
minds to become ethical digital citizens, has received all necessary approval from both FCT Universal Basic Education
Board and FCT Secondary Education Board FCT-SEB, to run the first pilot scheme with some selected schools in FCT.
Also, in a goodwill message, Florence Wenegieme Director Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, FCT UBEB, said forming clubs in secondary schools on AI will help, because outside the normal curriculum, they have to do extracurricular curriculum and there, as the members will network with one another, both teachers and students.
She appreciated the convener Havel for supporting government to cushion the efforts it is putting in the new technology.
Highpoint of the event was unveiling of the first set of the beneficiaries of Al school project with 30 students drawn from both Junior Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, and Government Day Secondary School, Wuse 2, both in
Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Also, there was award presentation to brilliant minds and innovative companies, policy makers, driving Al technology forward, making a profound impact across various sectors.
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