The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged researchers, investors, and innovators to collaborate with governments at all levels to pilot and scale artificial intelligence and digital solutions across agriculture, healthcare, education, and governance.

AbdulRazaq made the call on Monday in Ilorin at the 4th Biennial International Conference jointly organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, and the Faculty of Philology, Rudn University, Russia. He was represented at the event by his Special Adviser and Counsellor, Saadu Salau.

The governor disclosed that Kwara State had deliberately positioned itself as a subnational partner for global technology players, citing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Embassy that connected the State Innovation Hub to international expertise, mentorship, and funding pipelines.

"We have also secured partnerships with IHS Towers, MTN, and other global brands to expand digital infrastructure and create pathways for youth innovation. These are not just corporate CSR projects; they are structured collaborations to co develop solutions in connectivity, cloud services, and digital skills," AbdulRazaq stated.

He added that the Ilorin Innovation Hub and initiatives such as TechUnlimited were training thousands of youth in data analysis, software development, and AI fundamentals, while the KwaraLEARN programme was deploying real time data and digital tools to improve learning outcomes in public primary schools across all 16 local government areas of the state.

The governor also advocated laws and ethical guidelines to regulate the deployment of artificial intelligence and mitigate its potential negative effects, stressing that all innovation must be guided by ethics.

In his keynote address, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, described the digital revolution as fundamentally a human story, warning that society's greatest challenge lies in how technology is deployed.

Adeniyi revealed that electronic payment transactions in Nigeria reached N1.07 quadrillion in 2024, equivalent to approximately $702.6 billion at the year's closing exchange rate, adding that NIBSS Instant Payments processed N285 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 25 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

"African nations have now recognised the Nigerian Instant Payment System as the first fully mature instant payment system on the continent," he noted.

On artificial intelligence, Adeniyi cautioned that AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement for human intelligence.

"Artificial intelligence operates on correlation, not conscience. It processes information, but it does not understand meaning the way human beings do," he stated, adding that while AI could assist universities in grading examinations and generating reading materials, it could not replace the human role of teaching and mentoring.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Muhtar Adeiza, described the conference, themed "Disruptive Technology, Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy," as timely given the pace of global technological advancement.