The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has awarded Artificial Intelligence (AI) advocacy grants to seven civil society organisations to strengthen responsible AI governance, public awareness and digital inclusion in Nigeria.

The beneficiaries are TechHer, Cedar Foundation for Disability, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Nest Africa AI Innovation Lab, Webfala Digital Skill for All Initiative, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy and Dataphyte Foundation.

A statement by the organisation said the grants are being implemented under the Nigeria AI Collective, an initiative designed to promote an inclusive, citizen-centred and accountable AI ecosystem.

CJID said the selected organisations would, over the coming weeks, implement advocacy projects tailored to their institutional expertise, target communities and priority areas within Nigeria’s emerging AI landscape.

It noted that the projects represent the next phase of the AI Collective Community of Practice, a multi-stakeholder platform with over 600 members drawn from civil society, media, academia, technology, and student communities to promote AI literacy, collaboration, innovation and responsible governance.

The organisation stated that the grants build on an earlier phase in which civil society organisations jointly implemented advocacy initiatives on shared AI priorities.