The Federal Government of Nigeria has partnered with Meta to introduce GovGuide Nigeria, a multilingual artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to enhance access to government services and public information across the country. The platform was unveiled on Thursday during the launch of Meta's Economic Impact Report in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and local technology firm Publica AI.
This initiative marks a significant advancement in Nigeria's digital governance strategy, aiming to make public services more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly for all citizens. GovGuide Nigeria functions as both a voice and text assistant, enabling users to obtain information on government services through web platforms in English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba.
Minister Highlights Commitment to Digital Governance
Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized that the project reflects the government's dedication to leveraging technology for improved service delivery and citizen engagement. He noted that deploying AI-powered tools in local languages would help bridge communication gaps and expand access to public services, particularly among underserved communities.
“The GovGuide initiative reflects our commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence to make government services and information more accessible and responsive to the needs of Nigerians,” Tijani stated. He added that integrating AI into platforms already familiar to citizens would also enhance transparency and build public trust in government institutions. “As Nigeria continues to grow its digital economy, partnerships like this demonstrate how innovation can improve productivity, unlock opportunities, and bring government closer to the people,” he said.
Meta Highlights Open-Source AI for Development
Head of Public Policy at Meta, Sade Dada, described the initiative as a practical example of how open-source artificial intelligence can support economic growth and social development in Africa. She explained that GovGuide Nigeria was developed by Nigerian technology firm Publica AI using Meta's open-source AI models.
“GovGuide Nigeria is a voice and text AI assistant in English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba that gives every Nigerian, including rural and low-literacy users, easier access to information on government services,” Dada said. She noted that the project highlights the role of local innovation and talent in building technology solutions tailored to African realities.
Publica AI CEO Emphasizes Conversational Access
Chief Executive Officer of Publica AI, Ignatius Willie, stated that the platform was designed to transform how Nigerians interact with public institutions. “With GovGuide Nigeria, we are not simply digitizing access to public services; we are making them conversational, multilingual, and available on the channels Nigerians already use every day,” he said. He added that the platform was shaped through contributions from hundreds of Nigerian language experts and developers, demonstrating the potential for Africa-built digital infrastructure.
