The National Information Technology Development Agency has entered into memoranda of understanding with two Canadian technology firms, Goose FL and Fireflies AI, in Toronto.

The partnerships are part of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen international collaboration in artificial intelligence infrastructure and technologies aimed at promoting financial inclusion.

The agency disclosed this in a statement posted on its X page on Tuesday.

NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, witnessed the signing of the agreements, which the agency said formed part of a broader strategy to connect Nigeria’s technology ecosystem with global expertise while strengthening local capacity in artificial intelligence.

The agency said the two agreements are built around three key areas: financial inclusion, local AI infrastructure development and the broader growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.

NITDA said the partnerships would promote innovative technology solutions aimed at expanding access to digital financial services and creating sustainable economic opportunities for underserved communities.

For AI infrastructure, the agreements are expected to support the development of indigenous AI infrastructure and services, enabling Nigeria to strengthen its capacity to build, manage and benefit from AI technologies locally while reducing reliance on foreign-controlled systems.

On the broader digital economy front, NITDA said the partnerships would facilitate technology transfer, foster innovation and strengthen digital skills needed to support sustainable economic growth.

The agency noted that the initiative supports President Bola Tinubu’s target of expanding Nigeria’s economy to $1tn by 2030, with innovation, digital technology and human capital development serving as key drivers.

The NITDA agreements with Goose FL and Fireflies AI are the latest in a series of technology partnerships and digital infrastructure initiatives undertaken by the agency in recent months.

In June, NITDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission to accelerate digital skills development and strengthen innovation infrastructure across the six South-West states.

The agency also partnered with TikTok in June to establish a Digital Commerce Lab for small and medium-sized enterprises in Lagos, backed by a $20,000 pilot Train-the-Trainer programme.

NITDA said the initiative is designed to expand digital skills training for entrepreneurs in remote and underserved communities across the country.